turning evil

Noun

turning evil (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Sturdy; gid; turnsick.
   • A rare Medicine for the Scab or Itch. 2. All Maggots whatever. 3 The worms in the Claw. 4. All wild fire. 5. the turning evil, ſheep tagged 6. Sheep belted. 7. the ſturdy in ſheep.1680, Nicholas Culpeper, The Engliſh-Phyſicians dayly Practiſe. Or, Culpeper's Faithful Physitian. Teaching every Man and Woman to be their own Doctor, […] J. Conyers, page 8
   • When Oxen, and ſuch like Cattle, are troubled with that Diſeaſe which makes them continually turn about in one place (and is therefore called the Turning Evil, or Sturdy) a common Remedy here in England, as Graſiers that make uſe of it inform me, is to caſt down and tye faſt the ſick Beaſt, […]1664 [1663], Robert Boyle, chapter XII, in Some Considerations Touching the Vsefvlnesse of Experimental Naturall Philoſophy, […] , 2nd edition, Oxford, page 233