Home UK English rough and tumbling

Meaning of rough and tumbling in English:

rough and tumbling

noun

US Boxing

  • The action of participating in rough and tumble; playful roughhousing.

Pronunciation

rough and tumbling

/ˌrʌf (ə)n(d) ˈtʌmb(ə)lɪŋ/ /ˌrʌf (ə)n(d) ˈtʌmblɪŋ/

Origin

Early 19th century. Either from rough and tumble + -ing (although first attested slightly earlier), or from rough + and + tumbling.