Verb

(head)

(tumble)

Verb

(tumbl)

(lb) To fall end over end.

*(Robert South) (1634–1716)

*:He who tumbles from a tower surely has a greater blow than he who slides from a molehill.

*

*:“Heavens!” exclaimed Nina, “the blue-stocking and the fogy!—and yours are'' pale blue, Eileen!—you’re about as self-conscious as Drina—slumping there with your hair tumbling ''à la Mérode! Oh, it's very picturesque, of course, but a straight spine and good grooming is better.”

To perform gymnastics such as somersaults, rolls, and handsprings.

:(Rowe)

To roll over and over.

*1908 , (Kenneth Grahame), (The Wind in the Willows)

*:The two animals tumbled over each other in their eagerness to get inside, and heard the door shut behind them with great joy and relief.

(lb) To have sexual intercourse.

(lb) To smooth and polish a rough surface on relatively small parts.

To muss, to make disorderly; to tousle or rumple.

:

Verb

(head)

(fumble)

Verb

(fumbl)

(intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle

Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.

He fumbled the key into the lock.

* {{quote-news

, year=2010 , date=December 28 , author=Owen Phillips , title=Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.}}

(intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something

He fumbled for his keys.

He fumbled his way to the light-switch.

* Fielding

Adams now began to fumble in his pockets.

To blunder uncertainly.

He fumbled through his prepared speech.

To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.

to fumble for an excuse

* Chesterfield

My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles .

* Wordsworth

Alas! how he fumbles about the domains.

(transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.

To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.

* Shakespeare

I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers.