tummler

English

Etymology

Circa 1930, from Yiddish טומלער (tumler). Related to English tumble, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tūmōną (“to turn, rotate”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtʊmlə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ʊmlə(ɹ)

Noun

tummler (plural tummlers)

1. (US) An employee, usually male, of a Borscht Belt resort charged with the duty of entertaining guests throughout the day by providing any number of services, from comedian to master of ceremonies.
   • 2015, Henry Jenkins, “Mel Brooks, Vulgar Modernism, and Comic Remediation”, in Andrew Horton, Joanna E. Rapf, editors, A Companion to Film Comedy, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 151:

     Brooks began as a Tummler (master entertainer) at various Catskills resorts, where he honed his skills at telling jokes and doing impersonations.

2. A lively, mischievous man.
3. (by extension) A person with an official role which involves facilitating social interaction.
   • 2020 March, Annalee Newitz, “We Forgot About the Most Important Job on the Internet”, in The New York Times‎^[1], New York, N.Y.:

     But most of all, we can’t forget why we needed moderators in the first place: They’re our tummlers, helping us have a good time.