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rumble

 - 5 dictionary results

rum⋅ble

[ruhm-buhl] verb, -bled, -bling, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to make a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound, as thunder.
2. to move or travel with such a sound: The train rumbled on.
3. Slang. to have or take part in a street fight between or among teenage gangs: Rival gangs rumbled on Saturday afternoon.
–verb (used with object)
4. to give forth or utter with a rumbling sound: to rumble a command.
5. to cause to make or move with a rumbling sound: to rumble a wagon over the ground.
6. to subject to the action of a rumble or tumbling box, as for the purpose of polishing.
–noun
7. a deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound: the rumble of tanks across a bridge.
8. rumble seat.
9. a rear part of a carriage containing seating accommodations, as for servants, or space for baggage.
10. tumbling box.
11. Slang. a street fight between rival teenage gangs.

Origin:
1325–75; 1940–45 for def. 3; (v.) ME romblen, rumblen; cf. D rommelen, prob. of imit. orig.; (n.) ME, deriv. of the v.


rumbler, noun
rum⋅bling⋅ly, adverb


1. roar, thunder, roll, boom.

tumbling box

–noun
a box, pivoted at two corners, used in the manner of a tumbling barrel.
Also called rumble.


Origin:
1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rumble
rum·ble   (rŭm'bəl)   
v.   rum·bled, rum·bling, rum·bles

v.   intr.
  1. To make a deep, long, rolling sound.

  2. To move or proceed with a deep, long, rolling sound.

  3. Slang To engage in a gang fight.

v.   tr.
  1. To utter with a deep, long, rolling sound.

  2. To polish or mix (metal parts) in a tumbling box.

n.  
  1. A deep, long, rolling sound.

  2. A tumbling box.

  3. A luggage compartment or servant's seat in the rear of a carriage.

  4. Slang

    1. Pervasive, widespread expression of unrest or dissatisfaction.

    2. A gang fight.


[Middle English romblen, perhaps from Middle Dutch rommelen or from Middle Low German rummeln.]
rum'bler n., rum'bling·ly adv., rum'bly adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
rumble

  1. in.
    to fight. : The gangs are rumbling over on Fourth Street.
  2. n.
    a fight; a street fight; a gang fight. : My brother was hurt in a gang rumble.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

rumble  (v.)
c.1384, probably related to M.Du. rommelen "to rumble," M.H.G. rummeln, O.N. rymja "to shout, roar," all of imitative origin. The noun is attested from c.1386. Slang noun meaning "gang fight" is from 1946. Meaning "backmost part of a carriage" is from 1808 (earlier rumbler, 1801), probably from the effect of sitting over the wheels; hence rumble seat (1912).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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