tumbling-comb. form
1. The verbal noun and participial adjective in combinations and special collocations.
tumbling boy n. 
/ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ bɔɪ/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ bɔɪ/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ bɔɪ//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ bɔɪ/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌbɔɪ/
/ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌbɔɪ/Π
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xi. 145 He sent an express to the wharf for the tumbling boy.
1881 Daily News 2 June 5 The little tumbling boy and his oppressors.
tumbling girl n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ɡəːl/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ɡəːl/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ɡəːl//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ɡəːl/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌɡərl/
/ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌɡərl/Π
1854 C. Dickens Hard Times i. vii. 52 Tom Gradgrind's whim, ma'am, of bringing up the tumbling-girl.
1896 W. K. Leask H. Miller ii. 39 A tumbling-girl who had been sold by her parents to a travelling mountebank.
tumbling-ground n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋɡraʊnd/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋɡraʊnd/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋɡraʊnd//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋɡraʊnd/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌɡraʊnd/
/ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌɡraʊnd/Π
1861 Sat. Rev. 14 Dec. 604 A field is lent for a circus or a tumbling-ground for an acrobat.
tumbling lass n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ las/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ las/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ las//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ las/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌlæs/
/ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌlæs/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > acrobatic performance > [noun] > acrobat
tumblera1340
tumbesterc1386
tumblesterc1386
playera1425
speeler1496
balancer?1518
petaurist1656
tumbling lass1687
balance-master1753
balance-mistress1801
jerry-come-tumble1823
acrobat1827
evolutionist1833
jerry-go-nimble1874
1687 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 439 Reid the Mountebank pursues Scot of Harden..for stealing away from him a little girl, called the Tumbling-Lassie, that danced upon his stage.
tumbling-trick n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋtrɪk/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋtrɪk/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋtrɪk//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋtrɪk/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɪk/
/ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɪk/Π
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Induct. ii. 134 It is not a Comontie, a Christmas gambold, or a tumbling tricke?
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 302 They coming not to church to see tumbling tricks and hocus juglings.
2. † tumbling cast n. Obsolete a somersault; a fall, overthrow.† tumbling glass n. Obsolete a tumbler.
tumbling-barrel n. /ˈtʌmblɪŋbarl̩/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbarəl/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbarl̩/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋbarəl/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋbarəl//ˈtʌmblɪŋbarl̩//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbarəl//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbarl̩/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbɛrəl/
= tumbling-box n./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbɛrəl/ tumbling-bay n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbeɪ/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋbeɪ/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋbeɪ//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbeɪ/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbeɪ/
an outfall from a river, canal, or reservoir; a weir; also, the pool into which the water falls from this./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbeɪ/ΘΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun] > lasher
lock pool1674
tumbling-bay1724
lasher1851
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun] > artificially confined water
weirc897
dama1340
millpond1371
pound1535
pent1587
water-shut1613
tumbling-bay1724
backwater1788
pen pond1904
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun] > outfall
effluent1860
tumbling-bay1891
1724 Jrnl. House of Commons 20 382/1 The water is to be divided by an over-fall or tumbling-bay.
1795 J. Phillips Gen. Hist. Inland Navigation (rev. ed.) Add. 90 To preserve the water of the same river, a tumbling bay is to be erected.
1847 C. G. Addison Treat. Law Contracts (1883) ii. i. §1. 244 The lessee of a water-mill..has no right to alter the height of the tumbling-bay.
1891 A. J. Foster Ouse 136 A fine large ‘tumbling bay’, as the pools below the sluices are sometimes called.
tumbling bob n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ bɒb/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ bɒb/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ bɒb//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ bɒb/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌbɑb/
a weighted lever or arm in machinery, which when moved to a certain point falls and produces some motion./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌbɑb/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > lever > [noun] > weighted
tumbling bob1824
tumbling weight1903
1824 ‘R. Stuart’ Descr. Hist. Steam Engine 73 A weight or tumbling bob, or Y piece, to give the necessary momentum to the movement of the injection-cock lever.
tumbling-box n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbɒks/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋbɒks/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋbɒks//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋbɒks/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbɑks/
a rotating drum in which small articles (usually of metal) are cleaned and polished by attrition; also used in dissolving and mixing paints, varnishes, etc./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌbɑks/ΘΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > [noun] > for performing other processes
purchase1711
adjuster1747
concentrator1804
steamer1814
isolator1855
spacer1857
tumbler1857
plough1860
aspirator1863
trap1877
tumbling-box1877
plicater1880
comparator1883
tumbler-drum1883
rumbling barrel1894
copier1917
programmer1945
simulator1947
tensioner1950
platformer1953
hydrogasifier1966
snubber1972
1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Tumbling-box,..a cylindrical or barrel-shaped vessel..mounted on an axis so as to be revolved by a winch or pulley. Called also rumble, rolling barrel.
tumbling car n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ kɑː/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ kɑː/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ kɑː//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ kɑː/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌkɑr/
a tumbrel./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌkɑr/ΘΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > cart or wagon for conveying goods > [noun] > types of > dumper or tipper
tumbril1440
tumbling car1811
tilt-cart1834
dumper1856
tipper1920
1811 in Chambers's Jrnl. 11 Jan. (1845) 31/2 The chief part..was brought from the sand~beds of Esk in tumbling cars.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [noun] > somersault
supersault1503
somersault1530
tumbling cast1530
sobersaulta1533
somerset1591
turn-over1660
pitch-pole1842
spin1842
salto mortale1896
flip-flop1902
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 179 Sombresault, a tumblyng caste.
1677 M. Nedham 2nd Pacquet Advices 31 They are for a Tumbling-Cast to the present rulers of Church and State.
tumbling crank n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ kraŋk/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ kraŋk/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ kraŋk//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ kraŋk/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌkræŋk/
see quot./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌkræŋk/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > parts of > other parts
spring collet1845
post boxa1884
tumbling crank1886
sheave1887
vibration damper1932
taper-lock1954
1886 J. Barrowman Gloss. Sc. Mining Terms 69 Tumbling-crank, a crank on the end of the pumping shaft for giving reciprocating motion.
tumbling gear n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ɡɪə/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ɡɪə/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ɡɪə//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ɡɪə/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌɡɪ(ə)r/
a gear with one or more idle wheels on a swinging frame for producing reverse motion./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌɡɪ(ə)r/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > cog or gear > which allows change of speed or direction > reverse
tumbling gear1793
reversing gear1831
reverse gear1835
reverse1882
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 5 202 The common Tumbling Geer, as used in the Fire Engine.
ΘΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass
glassc888
verrea1382
Venice glass1527
rummer1625
bottle glass1626
Malaga glassa1627
flute1649
flute-glass1668
long glass1680
mum-glass1684
toasting glass1703
wine glass1709
tulip-glass1755
tun-glass1755
water glass1779
tumbler-glass1795
Madeira glass1801
tumbling glass1803
noggin glass1805
champagne glass1815
table glass1815
balloon glass1819
copita1841
firing glass1842
nobbler1842
thimble glass1843
wine1848
liqueur-glass1850
straw-stem1853
pokal1854
goblet1856
mousseline1862
pony glass1862
long-sleever1872
cocktail glass1873
champagne flute1882
yard-glass1882
sleever1896
tea-glass1898
liqueur1907
dock-glass1911
toast-master glass1916
Waterford1916
stem-glass1922
Pilsner glass1923
Amen glass1924
ballon1930
balloon goblet1931
thistle glass1935
snifter1937
balloon1951
shot-glass1955
handle1956
tulip1961
schooner1967
champagne fountain1973
1803 MS. Diary in Notes & Queries (1893) 8th Ser. III. 168/1 Had a few friends to dine, tried my new tumbling-glasses; very successful, all got drunk early.
tumbling joint n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ dʒɔɪnt/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ dʒɔɪnt/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ dʒɔɪnt//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ dʒɔɪnt/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌdʒɔɪnt/
see quot./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌdʒɔɪnt/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > haymaking apparatus > parts of
tumbling joint1844
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm III. 981 The English hay-tedding machine..having a series of revolving rakes... The rakes are attached to the wheels by a tumbling-joint,..when any undue resistance is opposed to a rake..the rake falls back till the obstruction has been passed.
tumbling metre n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˌmiːtə/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ˌmiːtə/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ˌmiːtə//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˌmiːtə/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌmidər/
cf. tumbling verse n./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌmidər/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > [noun] > tumbling verse
tumbling verse1584
tumbling metre1847
1847 Proc. Philol. Soc. 3 103 When this licence is taken frequently the metre becomes of that species..called..‘tumbling metres’.
tumbling-mill n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋmɪl/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋmɪl/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋmɪl//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋmɪl/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌmɪl/
a tumbling-box or set of these ( Cent. Dict. Suppl. 1909)./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌmɪl/ tumbling-room n. /ˈtʌmblɪŋrʊm/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋruːm/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋrʊm/, /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌrʊm/ space for tumbling; spec. a room in which a tumbling-box is set up.
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋruːm/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋruːm//ˈtʌmblɪŋrʊm//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋruːm//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋrʊm/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌrum/
, /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌrum//ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌrʊm/ΘΠ
the world > space > [noun] > sufficient space or room > room to live, move, or work > for other specific actions
tumbling-room1860
stretching-room1895
1860 G. Meredith Evan Harrington viii, in Once a Week 10 Mar. 222/2 No tumbling-room for the wine.
1901 Trans. Amer. Inst. Electr. Engin. 562 (Cent. Supp.).
tumbling shaft n. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ʃaft/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ʃɑːft/, /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ʃaft/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ʃɑːft/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ ʃɑːft//ˈtʌmblɪŋ ʃaft//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ʃɑːft//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ʃaft/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌʃæft/
a revolving shaft carrying cams producing intermittent motion./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌʃæft/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > shaft > [noun] > carrying cam(s)
tumbling shaft?1790
camshaft1874
?1790 J. Imison School of Arts (ed. 2) 36 It [the universal joint] is of great use in cotton mills, where the tumbling shafts are continued to a great distance from the moving power.
tumbling-star n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋstɑː/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋstɑː/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋstɑː//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋstɑː/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌstɑr/
an iron ball with projecting spikes which is put into the tumbling-box to stir up the polishing or abrading medium ( Cent. Dict. Suppl. 1909)./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌstɑr/ tumbling stone n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ stəʊn/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ stəʊn/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ stəʊn//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ stəʊn/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌstoʊn/
a loose stone embedded in clay; a boulder: = tumbler n. 8./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌstoʊn/ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > [noun] > a rock > boulder
stonerockeOE
rochec1300
rocka1413
calionc1459
outlier1610
boother1680
tumbler1789
boulder1815
lost stone1819
erratic blocka1828
erratic blocka1828
lost rock1831
gibber1834
tumbling stone1857
foundling-stone1892
1857 J. Robertson in Charteris Life (1863) xii. 338 There are many sloughs and tumbling stones on the road.
1881 Borrings & Sinkings II. 2 (E.D.D.) Strong blue clay with large tumbling stones.
tumbling tom n. /ˌtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˈtɒm/,
Brit. /ˌtʌmblɪŋ ˈtɒm/
, /ˌtʌmblɪŋ ˈtɒm//ˌtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˈtɒm/U.S. /ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈtɑm/
in Coal-mining: see quot. 1883; also Scottish (tumbling Tam), a thick heavy halfpenny of George III's reign./ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈtɑm/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > mining equipment > [noun] > equipment for lowering or raising miners or material > for raising material > equipment for tipping
tumbling tom1826
coal tip1852
kick-up1883
tumbler1883
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > halfpenny
halfpennyc1330
ob.1389
galley-halfpenny1409
obolusc1450
make?1536
mail1570
meg?1738
mag?1775
tumbling tom1826
magpie1838
1826 J. Galt Last of Lairds iv. 37 I gave him a whole penny—twa new bawbees, gude weight, for it was then the days o' the tumbling Tams.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Tumbling Toms, tippers that turn completely over.
tumbling-trough n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋtrɒf/, /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɑf/ in sulphuric acid manufacture, a receptacle which pours nitric acid from each of its two balancing chambers in turn ( Cent. Dict. 1891).
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋtrɒf/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋtrɒf//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋtrɒf/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɔf/
, /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɔf//ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌtrɑf/ tumbling verse n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ vəːs/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ vəːs/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ vəːs//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ vəːs/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌvərs/
a kind of irregular anapæstic verse: see quot./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌvərs/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > [noun] > tumbling verse
tumbling verse1584
tumbling metre1847
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > poem or piece of poetry > types of poem according to form > [noun] > form of alliterative verse
rouncival1584
tumbling verse1584
1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. M Thir hes twa short, and ane lang throuch all the lyne, quhen they keip ordour: albeit the maist pairt of thame be out of ordour, & keipis na kynde nor reule of Flowing, & for that cause are callit Tumbling verse.
tumbling water-cracker n. /ˌtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˈwɔːtəkrakə/, /ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈwɑdərˌkrækər/ a kind of aquatic firework.
Brit. /ˌtʌmblɪŋ ˈwɔːtəkrakə/
, /ˌtʌmblɪŋ ˈwɔːtəkrakə//ˌtʌmbl̩ɪŋ ˈwɔːtəkrakə/U.S. /ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈwɔdərˌkrækər/
, /ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈwɔdərˌkrækər//ˌtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˈwɑdərˌkrækər/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > used in water
water-rocket1634
tumbling water-cracker1740
water-cat1740
water cracker1740
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (rev. ed.) App. p. xlviii Charges for tumbling Water-crackers. Meal-powder.., saltpetre.., and charcoal. [Cf. 21 Water-crackers, which turn in the water.]
tumbling weight n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ weɪt/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋ weɪt/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋ weɪt//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋ weɪt/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌweɪt/
= tumbling bob n./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋ ˌweɪt/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > lever > [noun] > weighted
tumbling bob1824
tumbling weight1903
1903 Nature 19 Nov. 68/1 Barney's illustration of the Dudley Castle engine (erected in 1712) was made in 1719, and contains the plug-frame and tumbling-weight device... It is possible that the tumbling-weight had just been added for actuating the steam-valve.
tumbling-wheel n. /ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋwiːl/,
Brit. /ˈtʌmblɪŋwiːl/
, /ˈtʌmblɪŋwiːl//ˈtʌmbl̩ɪŋwiːl/U.S. /ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌ(h)wil/
a revolving chamber in which small wooden objects are smoothed by attrition; cf. tumbling-box n./ˈtəmb(ə)lɪŋˌ(h)wil/This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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comb. form1530