rough-and-tumble, a., n., and adv.
Also unhyphened.
[Orig. boxing slang.]
A. adj.
1. Characterized by rough informality or disregard of usual rules; having the character of a scuffle or scramble; rude and disorderly.
| 1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow B. xv. (1860) 138 Rough-and-tumble fights in which they were often engaged. 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 371 A rough and tumble fight is said to be one in which all the laws of the ring are discarded. 1872 O. W. Holmes Poet. Breakf.-T. x, That circle of rough-and-tumble political life where the fine-fibred men are at a discount. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods i. iv. 7 Their rough-and-tumble play they shared. |
| transf. 1899 Callow Old Lond. Tav. i. 3 There was always a more or less rough-and-tumble air about the place. |
2. Of persons: Practising irregular or informal methods of boxing, etc.; inclined to be rough or violent.
| 1848 B. D. Walsh Aristoph. 157 note, The victories of..wrestlers, boxers, and rough-and-tumble gentlemen. 1860 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner (1887) 39 The rough-and-tumble fighters all clinch. 1890 F. W. Robinson Very Strange Family 18 Rough-and-tumble lads, with no fine feelings. |
3. transf. Riotous, disorderly, forming a confused mass or group.
| 1858 O. W. Holmes Aut. Breakf.-t. (1883) 237 Dare-devil impudence of rough-and-tumble vegetation. 1879 Stevenson Trav. Cevennes (1886) 49, I..found..another marish bottom among rough-and-tumble hills. |
4. Roughly constructed or improvised; makeshift. rare.
| 1912 Kipling Land & Sea Tales (1923) 70 They heaved up their rough-and-tumble anchor, and made after a..sailing-ship. |
B. n.
1. Haphazard or random fighting, struggling, or adventure; scuffle, scramble.
| 1810 Edin. Rev. XV. 447 When two persons fight, it is generally ‘according to the rule of rough and tumble’. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xxviii. 92 The old brig..in which I had spent nearly a year, and got the first rough and tumble of a sea-life. 1875 G. J. Whyte-Melville Katerfelto i, The Cornish hug, the Devonshire shoulder-grip, and the West Somerset rough-and-tumble. |
2. With a. A random or free fight or set-to.
| 1821 Southey in Q. Rev. XXIV. 494 The Coalheaver..closed with him at once for a rough-and-tumble. 1887 Rider Haggard A. Quatermain viii, He had been successful in his rough and tumble with the Elmoran. |
C. adv. In a rough, informal manner.
| 1818 J. Palmer Jrnl. Trav. 131, I understand the question is generally asked, will you fight fair, or take it rough and tumble? 1825 J. Neal Bro. Jonathan III. 270 A bit of clear tussle with a redhot Mohawk or so—rough an' tumble—would be a relief to me. 1935 Z. N. Hurston Mules & Men (1970) i. viii. 178 Mr. Allen might have eaten by the rules but Cliffert and I went at it rough-and-tumble with no holds barred. |
Hence rough-and-tumbling. rare.
| 1808 Ashe Trav. I. 296 No fighting, no racing, no rough and tumbling, or anything to be observed but industry. 1832 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. I. 130/2 The scene can only be compared to a rough-and-tumbling in the back woods of America. |