verb. (old colloquial).—To dance. [Formerly dance and TUMBLE were popularly synonymous; moreover, the professional dancers of mediæval times were also acrobats; and, pictorially, Herodias’ daughter is often represented as walking on her hands.] Hence TUMBLER (or TUMBESTER) = a female dancer, and (modern) an acrobat. As subs. = (1) a dance; and (2) a CATHERINE WHEEL (q.v.).
1380. WYCLIF, Bible, Matthew xiv. The douȝtir of Herodias daunside [ether TUMBLIDE, margin] in the myddil, and pleside Heroude.
[?]. MS. Harl., 1701, f. 8. Herodias douȝter, that was a TUMBESTERE, and TUMBLEDE byfore him.
| Ibid., 19. | |
| Hyt telleth that Eroud swore | |
| To here that TUMBLED yn the flore. |
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘The Pardoner’s Tale,’ 15.
| Comen TOMBESTERES … the verray deueles officeres | |
| To kindle and blowe the fyr of [lecherye]. |
1605. JONSON, Volpone, or the Fox, ii. 3.
| A common rogue, come fiddling in | |
| To the osteria, with a TUMBLING whore. |
1626. FLETCHER, The Noble Gentleman, ii. 1.
| There is no TUMBLER | |
| Runs thro’ his hoop with more dexterity, | |
| Than I about this business. |
1801. J. STRUTT, The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England, 288. The TUMBLER is walking upon his hands.
1824–8. LANDOR, Imaginary Conversations, ‘General … Lacy and Cura Merina.’ A TUMBLE of heels over head, a feat performed by beggar boys on the roads.
2. (colloquial).—To understand, perceive, assent to, accept: cf. ‘fall in with,’ ‘concur,’ and Fr. tombre d’accord.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 15. The high words in a tragedy we call jaw-breakers, and say we can’t TUMBLE TO that barrikin.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 12. The courtship was progressive, and you’ll TUMBLE to their bliss.
1898. BINSTEAD, A Pink ’Un and a Pelican, 73. You’re labouring under a great misapprehension. You’re only here by the month—not on a ninety-nine years’ lease! Do you TUMBLE?
1899. KERNAHAN, Scoundrels & Co., xx. As soon as the members ‘TUMBLE’ TO it,… the chairman will spring to his feet and take up the air.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xxi. Bill tips me the wink to pretend not to TUMBLE TO their lingo.
1900. LYNCH, High Stakes, xxiii. He didn’t TUMBLE TO all the cop’s nice boch.
1902. Free Lance, 19 July, 362. 2. So be simple, even silly, and the public, willy-nilly, Most assuredly will TUMBLE to your jokelets.
3. (stock exchange).—To fall rapidly in value: of prices.
4. (venery).—(a) To rumple, TOUZLE (q.v.), MESS ABOUT (q.v.); (b) to possess a woman: also TO TUMBLE IN; A TUMBLE-IN = the act of kind; TO DO A TUMBLE (of women) = to lie down to a man, TO SPREAD (q.v.). TO TUMBLE TO PIECES = to be brought to bed; TUMBLING-RIPE = ready for the act, wanton, COMING (q.v.). Whence TO TUMBLE A BED = to pile in the act; TUMBLE-A-BED = (1) chambermaid: see SCOTCH WARMING-PAN; and (2) a whore.
c. 1615. FLETCHER, The Woman’s Prize, i. 1.
| Do all the ramping, roaring tricks a whore | |
| Being drunk, and TUMBLING RIPE. |
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 4.
| What priest beside thyself e’er grumbl’d | |
| To have his daughter tightly TUMBL’D? |
PHRASES.—TO TUMBLE IN = to go to bed; TO TUMBLE UP = (a) to rise from one’s bed, and (b) to come, or move quickly: also TO TUMBLE ALONG; TO TUMBLE TO = to set to vigorously: also see verb sense 2; TO TAKE A TUMBLE TO ONESELF = to take oneself to task; TO KICK ONESELF (q.v.); TO TUMBLE TO THE RACKET (American politics), see RACKET; TO TUMBLE ON ONE’S FEET = to escape without injury, to come out on TOP (q.v.).
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxviii. Mr. Bailey … giving Jonas a shake, cried, ‘We’ve got home, my flower! TUMBLE UP then.’
1890. New York Evening Post [Century], 29 Jan. To give the name of legislation to the proceedings at Albany … would be an abuse of language. The proper name was ‘TUMBLING TO THE RACKET.’ The Assembly passed the bill without debate … much as they might pass a bill authorising a man to change his name.
