tumbling barrel

American  

noun

1. a rotating drum for subjecting materials or small manufactured objects, loosely placed inside, to a tumbling action, as to mix materials or to polish objects by friction with one another or with an abrasive.

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Etymology

Origin of tumbling barrel

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Then it’s back into Luhrmann’s tumbling barrel.

From Washington Post

After the boring and turning are done, they are smoothed by placing them into a tumbling barrel with soapstone.

From Project Gutenberg