tumbrel

or tum·bril

[ tuhm-bruhl ]

/ ˈtʌm brəl /

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noun

one of the carts used during the French Revolution to convey victims to the guillotine.

a farmer's cart, especially one for hauling manure, that can be tilted to discharge its load.

Obsolete. a two-wheeled covered cart accompanying artillery for carrying tools, ammunition, etc.

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Origin of tumbrel

1275–1325; Middle English tumberell ducking stool <Medieval Latin tumberellus<Old French tumberel dump-cart, equivalent to tombe(r) to fall (see tumble) + -rel-rel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tumbrel in a sentence

It has been told, by every writer, that she could look over at her girlhood home, as her tumbril crossed Pont au Change.
The Stones of Paris in History and Letters, Volume I (of 2)|Benjamin Ellis Martin
The last tumbril would doubtless arrive in good time without their assistance!
When a Cobbler Ruled a King|Augusta Huiell Seaman
But he sent her to the scaffold; and on November 9, 1793, the tumbril came to convey her to the guillotine.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 6 of 8|Various
The tumbril that bore him to execution was stopped on its way by the furious rabble, and he was torn in pieces by them.
The Golden Dog|William Kirby

That, 158 he answered, reminded him of another procession, a different cart; but it was more French than Castilian—the tumbril.
The Bright Shawl|Joseph Hergesheimer

British Dictionary definitions for tumbrel

tumbrel

tumbril

/ (ˈtʌmbrəl) /

noun

a farm cart for carrying dung, esp one that tilts backwards to deposit its load. A cart of this type was used to take condemned prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution

(formerly) a covered cart that accompanied artillery in order to carry ammunition, tools, etc

an obsolete word for a ducking stool

Word Origin for tumbrel

C14 tumberell ducking stool, from Medieval Latin tumbrellum from Old French tumberel dump cart, from tomber to tumble, of Germanic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tumbrel

or tum·bril

Origin of tumbrel

Words related to tumbrel

How to use tumbrel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tumbrel

tumbril

Word Origin for tumbrel