Originating from 15th-century English, combining “turn” and “pike” (a pointed weapon or shaft).
It originally meant a spiked barrier or turnstile used to block roads and manage access.
By the 1670s, it referred to tollgate barriers that were “turned” to allow passage only after payment.
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Not a part of London I know, but always been a little confused by the name. Never bothered to google it.
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There were quite a few in London back in the day.
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A bit of Welsh history I learnt in school.
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This reminds me of the old turnstiles at railway crossings before the level crossings became automated. Designed to capture pedestrians.
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If the root of turnpike is as set out (turning the pike) then it might be that the french equivalent, tournepique, comes from the English word. Unless tourne and pique were already the French words for the same verb and noun - and they similarly put them together.
Here’s my guess - the word pike came from the French pique. Today, a piquet is a post such as the ones that hold up the vines. And the English word pike is only either a fish or a weapon, and most English words for medieval weapons come from French (it being a French speaking royalty at the time). That’s my guess but I’m happy to be informed and corrected if wrong!
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Makes you think of torniquet too doesn’t it. That’s French to … to turn.
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French for - turn what?
Turnpike lane, not far from where I lived, on the Piccadilly line which I used every day but going towards to the centre, not further North. 
I used to go to the nearby Wood Green shopping city but by car.
How interesting, I didn’t know the meaning of turnpike, never thought about it really, you learn something every day, especially on forums, great!
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No idea … I only meant the beginning of the word.
Sounds Latin doesn’t it.
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Don’t tell him Pike.
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That was one of the best episodes wasn’t it 
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