'outward-turning' is a Modern English compound formed from 'outward' + 'turning'. 'Outward' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'ūtweard', where 'ūt' meant 'out' and 'weard' meant 'ward/direction'. 'Turn' (the root of 'turning') ultimately comes from Latin 'tornare' via Old French 'torner', where the root meant 'to turn'.

'outward' developed from Old English 'ūtweard' (Middle English 'utward'), and 'turning' derives from the verb 'turn' (Old French 'torner' ← Latin 'tornare'); these elements were combined in Modern English to form the descriptive compound 'outward-turning'.

The components originally meant 'toward the outside' ('outward') and 'to rotate or change direction' ('turn'); combined, the meaning has remained literal: 'turning toward the outside' or 'directed outward'.