tummler

[ toom-ler ]

noun

1. a male entertainer, as formerly employed by resorts in the Catskill Mountains, who combined the duties of a comedian, activities director, and master of ceremonies to keep the guests amused throughout the day.
2. any lively, prankish, or mischievous man.

tummler

/ ˈtʌmlə /

noun

1. a comedian or other entertainer employed to encourage audience participation or to encourage guests at a resort to take part in communal activities

Word History and Origins

Origin of tummler¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Yiddish tumler “one who makes a racket or stir,” equivalent to tuml(en) “to make a racket” + -er; compare Middle High German getümel “noise”; -er ¹; tumble

Word History and Origins

Origin of tummler¹

C20: Yiddish, from tumlen to stir, bustle

Example Sentences

As both magician and mnemonist, he was a direct, gleeful scion of the 19th-century midway pitchman and the 20th-century borscht belt tummler.

From New York Times

If you don’t count the years when he worked as a drummer, a “tummler” and a teenage comic in the Catskills, Mel Brooks began his show business career in television, writing for Sid Caesar at the dawn of the medium.

From Los Angeles Times

One of his earliest jobs in the Catskills was as a social director, who is often referred to as a tummler, at the Homowack Lodge, where he hosted shows at night and organized activities to keep guests happy during the day.

From New York Times

Operations manager Kleo Tümmler admits it's a challenge: "We are built to take care of people for a few days. Sometimes they have to stay here for two weeks, maybe three weeks."

From BBC

Ms Tümmler and her colleagues appear committed to making life as easy and comfortable as possible for the people here.

From BBC