roustabout

American  

[roust-uh-bout] / ˈraʊst əˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a wharf laborer or deck hand, as on the Mississippi River.

2. an unskilled laborer who lives by odd jobs.

3. a circus laborer who helps in setting up and taking down the tents and in caring for the animals, equipment, and grounds.

4. any unskilled laborer working in an oil field.

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roustabout British  

/ ˈraʊstəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. an unskilled labourer on an oil rig

2. another word for rouseabout

3. a labourer in a circus or fairground

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Etymology

Origin of roustabout

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; roust + about

Example Sentences

Shane's father, Maurice, who also described himself as something of a "roustabout", would, he said, try to read James Joyce's famously impenetrable, Finnegan's Wake with an 11-year-old Shane.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2023

As a former construction worker, he had the foundation, with some additional training, to begin working as a roustabout, assembling and repairing equipment in the offshore oil industry two years ago.

From Seattle Times • May 4, 2023

His character is a janitor and general roustabout, angling for a spot in the show.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2022

Mr. Duncan liked to joke that his only previous experience in the oil industry was working a few weeks in Texas rigs as a low-rung laborer known as roustabout.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2022

An ancient roustabout is also looking through the stands but facing the other direction.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen