turnkey

turn +‎ key

• (US) enPR: tûrn'-kē

turnkey (comparative more turnkey, superlative most turnkey)

1. ready to use without further assembly or test; supplied in a state that is ready to turn on and operate (typically refers to an assembly that is outsourced for manufacture)

   They wanted a turnkey solution for the entire system, but we could only provide the enclosure.

   • 1980, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, April 1980, Kathleen Bailey, When and why weapons; page 42

     Third World countries no longer want to purchase nuclear projects on a turn-key basis; they want to receive advanced technical training as well.

turnkey (plural turnkeys)

1. (now archaic) A warder or jailer/gaoler; keeper of the keys in a prison.
   • 1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick papers

     ...they passed through an open door into a lobby, from which a heavy gate, opposite to that by which they had entered, and which was guarded by a stout turnkey with the key in his hand, led at once into the interior of the prison.

   • 1883, Thomas Hardy, The Three Strangers

     'Certainly not,' said the turnkey; and the first corroborated his statement.

turnkey (third-person singular simple present turnkeys, present participle turnkeying, simple past and past participle turnkeyed)

1. to supply a turnkey product; to supply something fully assembled and ready to use

   We can sell you all the parts, or we can turnkey the entire unit.

• EPC: "engineering, procurement and construction"