Tumble
/ˈtʌm.bəl/noun
To fall suddenly, roll end over end, or move in an uncontrolled way.
Did you know?English tumble comes from a Germanic word tied to turning and turning over, and its deep relatives include words like timber and timbre, showing how old roots can split into wildly different meanings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tem-
“to cut, shape, or make by cutting”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*tumblōną
“to turn over, tumble”
Old English
OE
tumblian
“to fall or roll about”
Middle English
ME
tumblen
“to roll, fall, or turn over repeatedly”
Modern English
English
tumble
“to fall suddenly or move in an uncontrolled rolling motion”