roustabout

noun

roust·about ˈrau̇-stə-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce roustabout (audio)

: deckhand

: longshoreman

: an unskilled or semiskilled laborer especially in an oil field or refinery

: a circus worker who erects and dismantles tents, cares for the grounds, and handles animals and equipment

: a person with no permanent home or regular occupation

also : one who stirs up trouble

Did you know?

Circus roustabouts are most commonly associated with circus animals, of course, but they also have a connection with game birds, at least in terms of etymology. "Roustabout" comes from "roust," which is an alteration of "rouse," a verb from Middle English that originally meant "to shake the feathers" (as in the way a bird might ruffle its feathers or shake its plumage when it is settling down or grooming itself). "Rouse," which today is a synonym of "awaken," also formerly meant "to cause to break from cover," a sense that may have influenced the modern meaning of "roust": "to drive (as from bed) roughly or unceremoniously."

Synonyms

docker [chiefly British]
dockhand
dockworker
longshoreman
rouster
stevedore

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

sought work as a roustabout on the city's seedy waterfront

Recent Examples on the Web Cox would work his way up from a roustabout and roughneck to eventually leading an oil and gas company as well as other notable businesses.

Dallas News, 7 Nov. 2020 The shale patch was the Wild West reborn, featuring poker games with $1000 buy-ins, boisterous strip clubs packed with roustabouts and brawling in the muddy streets illuminated by columns of flaring gas.

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2020 The Showmen's League Of America commemorates the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train disaster which killed 86 circus performers and roustabouts and injured 127, at Showman's Rest in Wood Lawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Ill., on Thursday, May 5, 2018.

Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, 20 Feb. 2020 Bradley has enough swagger as the Elvis-wannabe, Feallock ably switches between the sweet and charming tomboy who finally wears a dress to attract Chad, to cross-dressing as another roustabout named Ed in order to befriend Chad.

Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, 7 Aug. 2019 The Bowery reference made the area seem rather seedy and sordid, conjuring up images of barroom brawls, prostitution, roustabouts and gambling houses.

Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, 5 Dec. 2019 Her Big Maybelle-Etta James roustabouts find this classic form.

Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2020 Still, travelers keep coming — motorcyclists, desert roustabouts, lost families.

Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2019 Linda Leto Head, Lone Star College senior associate vice chancellor, external and employer relations, said they are accredited by the International Association of Drilling Contractors for its oil and gas drilling floorhand-roustabout program.

Valerie Sweeten, Houston Chronicle, 8 July 2018 See More

单词	roustabout
释义	roustabout noun roust·about ˈrau̇-stə-ˌbau̇t 1 a : deckhand b : longshoreman 2 : an unskilled or semiskilled laborer especially in an oil field or refinery 3 : a circus worker who erects and dismantles tents, cares for the grounds, and handles animals and equipment 4 : a person with no permanent home or regular occupation also : one who stirs up trouble Did you know? Circus roustabouts are most commonly associated with circus animals, of course, but they also have a connection with game birds, at least in terms of etymology. "Roustabout" comes from "roust," which is an alteration of "rouse," a verb from Middle English that originally meant "to shake the feathers" (as in the way a bird might ruffle its feathers or shake its plumage when it is settling down or grooming itself). "Rouse," which today is a synonym of "awaken," also formerly meant "to cause to break from cover," a sense that may have influenced the modern meaning of "roust": "to drive (as from bed) roughly or unceremoniously." Synonyms docker [chiefly British] dockhand dockworker longshoreman rouster stevedore See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences sought work as a roustabout on the city's seedy waterfront Recent Examples on the Web Cox would work his way up from a roustabout and roughneck to eventually leading an oil and gas company as well as other notable businesses. Dallas News, 7 Nov. 2020 The shale patch was the Wild West reborn, featuring poker games with $1000 buy-ins, boisterous strip clubs packed with roustabouts and brawling in the muddy streets illuminated by columns of flaring gas. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2020 The Showmen's League Of America commemorates the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train disaster which killed 86 circus performers and roustabouts and injured 127, at Showman's Rest in Wood Lawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Ill., on Thursday, May 5, 2018. Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, 20 Feb. 2020 Bradley has enough swagger as the Elvis-wannabe, Feallock ably switches between the sweet and charming tomboy who finally wears a dress to attract Chad, to cross-dressing as another roustabout named Ed in order to befriend Chad. Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, 7 Aug. 2019 The Bowery reference made the area seem rather seedy and sordid, conjuring up images of barroom brawls, prostitution, roustabouts and gambling houses. Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, 5 Dec. 2019 Her Big Maybelle-Etta James roustabouts find this classic form. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2020 Still, travelers keep coming — motorcyclists, desert roustabouts, lost families. Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2019 Linda Leto Head, Lone Star College senior associate vice chancellor, external and employer relations, said they are accredited by the International Association of Drilling Contractors for its oil and gas drilling floorhand-roustabout program. Valerie Sweeten, Houston Chronicle, 8 July 2018 See More Word History First Known Use 1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1a roustabout noun as in stevedore one who loads and unloads ships at a port sought work as a roustabout on the city's seedy waterfront Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance stevedore longshoreman dockworker rouster docker dockhand
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roustabout

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun