Tumblings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Involuntary, chaotic movements or falls often characterized by a series of uncontrollable rolls or turns
2. A sequence of twists or somersaults performed in a display of agility or during acrobatic routines
3. Sudden shifts or changes that suggest an element of surprise or disorder in an action or situation

Etymology: "Tumblings" is simply the plural of "tumbling", the noun for acrobatic somersaults and flips. "Tumbling" is the gerund-style noun formed from the verb "tumble", and the plural form points to a number of separate flips or routines rather than the act in general. The verb "tumble" itself goes back to Middle English "tumblen", meaning to fall over or to perform acrobatic feats, and it is related to the older verb "tumble" in the sense of rolling or turning over.

Synonyms: falls, rolls