A gate with rotating arms or bars that allows one person to pass through at a time, commonly used in subways, stadiums, and parks.
From 'turn' plus 'stile' (a gate), combining two elements to describe a rotating entrance mechanism that emerged in the 19th century.
The turnstile is such a brilliant design because it controls flow while allowing rapid passage—the spinning mechanism means only one person can enter per rotation, making it a purely mechanical form of social organization without a human guard.
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