	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for May 25, 2012
Skip Navigation Home Asian Pacific American Heritage Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

| Share

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—T

Tomboy

A romping girl, formerly used for a harlot. (Saxon, tumbere, a dancer or romper; Danish, tumle, “to tumble about;” French, tomber; Spanish, tumbar; our tumble.) The word may either be tumbe-boy (one who romps like a boy), or a tumber (one who romps), the word boy being a corruption.

A lady
So fair ... to be partner
With tomboys.

Shakespeare. Cymbelins, i. 6.

Halliwell gives the following quotation:

“Herodias dougter that was a tumb-estre, and tumblete before [the king] and other grete lordes of the contré, he granted to geve hure whatevere she would bydde.”

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Tomahawk

Tom o' Bedlams