a keeper of the keys, esp in a prison; warder or jailer
adjective
2.
denoting a project, as in civil engineering, in which a single contractor has responsibility for the complete job from the start to the time of installation or occupancy
turnkey in American English1
(ˈtɜrnˌki)
nounWord forms: pluralˈturnˌkeys
a person in charge of the keys of a prison; warder; jailer
turnkey in American English2
(ˈtɜrnˌki)
US
adjective
designating, of, or by a method of construction, installation, etc. whereby the contractor, installer, etc. assumes total responsibility from design through completion of the project
Word origin
because the new owner of a housing-project unit so constructed need only turn thedoor key to take occupancy