Tumble

Tumble, tum′bl, v.i. to fall: to come down suddenly and violently: to roll: to twist the body, as a mountebank: to fall rapidly, as prices: to go hastily: (slang) to understand, twig.—v.t. to throw headlong: to turn over: to throw about while examining: to disorder, rumple.—n. act of tumbling: a fall: a rolling over, a somersault: confusion.—ns. Tum′ble-bug, one of several kinds of scarabæoid beetles, which roll up balls of dung to protect their eggs; Tum′ble-car, a one-horse car.—adj. Tum′ble-down, dilapidated.—ns. Tum′bler, one who tumbles: one who plays any of the feats or tricks of the acrobat or contortionist: a large drinking-glass, so called because formerly, having a pointed base, it could not be set down without tumbling: a kind of domestic pigeon, so called from its tumbling on the wing: a kind of greyhound: a kind of spring-latch in a lock, preventing the bolt being shot in either direction: a piece attached to the hammer of a firearm lock, receiving the thrust of the mainspring and forcing the hammer forward so as to strike and explode the charge: a porpoise: one of a gang of London street ruffians early in the 18th century, whose favourite frolic was to set women on their heads: a tumbril: one of a set of levers from which hang the heddles in some looms; Tum′blerful, as much as will fill a tumbler; Tum′bler-stand, a tray for tumblers, as in connection with a soda-water fountain; Tum′bler-tank, in plumbing, a flush-tank in which water gathers in one chamber before being tilted over so as to discharge its contents; Tum′bler-wash′er, a revolving stand fitted with projecting pipes on which tumblers are hung to be washed automatically; Tum′ble-weed, a name given to several plants whose globular flowering heads are detached in autumn and rolled about, scattering their seed; Tum′bling, the act of falling.—adj. Tum′bly, uneven.—Tumble in, or home, to incline in above the extreme breadth, of a ship's sides: to fit, as a piece of timber into other work: to go to bed; Tumble over, to toss about carelessly, to upset: to fall over; Tumble to (slang), to comprehend; Tumble up, to get out of bed: to throw into confusion. [A.S. tumbian; cf. Old High Ger. tūmilōn (Ger. taumeln), Ice. tumba, to dance.]