Tum"ble, n. Act of tumbling, or rolling over; a fall.
Tum"ble*bug` (?), n. See Tumbledung.
Tum"ble-down` (?), a. Ready to fall; dilapidated; ruinous; as, a
tumble-down house. [Colloq.]
Tum"ble*dung` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of scaraboid
beetles belonging to Scarabæus, Copris, Phanæus, and allied genera. The
female lays her eggs in a globular mass of dung which she rolls by
means of her hind legs to a burrow excavated in the earth in which she
buries it.
Tum"bler (?), n. 1. One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various
motions of the body; an acrobat.
2. A movable obstruction in a lock, consisting of a lever, latch,
wheel, slide, or the like, which must be adjusted to a particular
position by a key or other means before the bolt can be thrown in
locking or unlocking.
3. (Firearms) A piece attached to, or forming part of, the hammer of a
gunlock, upon which the mainspring acts and in which are the notches
for sear point to enter.
4. A drinking glass, without a foot or stem; — so called because
originally it had a pointed or convex base, and could not be set down
with any liquor in it, thus compelling the drinker to finish his
measure.
5. (Zoöl.) A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of
tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.
6. (Zoöl.) A breed of dogs that tumble when pursuing game. They were
formerly used in hunting rabbits.