The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Turnspit \Turn"spit`\, n.
   1. One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some
      menial office.
      [1913 Webster]

            His lordship is his majesty's turnspit. --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) A small breed of dogs having a long body and short
      crooked legs. These dogs were formerly much used for
      turning a spit on which meat was roasting.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

turnspit
    n 1: a roasting spit that can be turned