Word for the day roustabout

[Josiah]

roustabout



[roust-uh-bout]
Spell Syllables

• Examples
• Word Origin

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 andin caring for the animals, equipment, and grounds.

4.any unskilled laborer working in an oil field.Compare roughneck (def 2).



OriginExpand
1865-1870

1865-70, Americanism; roust + about

 

[Vivjen]

That is what we would call an 'American' word.......I don't think that we would use it here.....although I have heard it used on US TV!

 

[hollydolly]

I agree with VJ I have only ever heard this word on American TV shows

 

[Meanderer]

 

[Meanderer]

I always associated the name with the carnival or circus. ...and "Hey Rube"! http://disappearingidioms.com/hey-rube/

 

[SifuPhil]

I always associated the name with the carnival or circus. ...and "Hey Rube"! http://disappearingidioms.com/hey-rube/

Wow, I was just going to add the "Hey Rube" codeword - I used to be a circus freak.

...

I mean, I used to like to study circuses - I wasn't a geek who bit the heads off chickens or anything like that. :cower:

 

[Meanderer]

Wow, I was just going to add the "Hey Rube" codeword - I used to be a circus freak.

...

It's always good to keep up with the Circus News!