tumbrel

or tum·bril

[ tuhm-bruh l ]
/ ˈtʌm brəl /

noun

one of the carts used during the French Revolution to convey victims to the guillotine.
a farmer's cart, especially one for hauling manure, that can be tilted to discharge its load.
Obsolete. a two-wheeled covered cart accompanying artillery for carrying tools, ammunition, etc.

Origin of tumbrel

1275–1325; Middle English tumberell ducking stool < Medieval Latin tumberellus < Old French tumberel dump-cart, equivalent to tombe(r) to fall (see tumble) + -rel -rel

Example sentences from the Web for tumbrel

British Dictionary definitions for tumbrel

tumbrel

tumbril

/ (ˈtʌmbrəl) /

noun

a farm cart for carrying dung, esp one that tilts backwards to deposit its load. A cart of this type was used to take condemned prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution
(formerly) a covered cart that accompanied artillery in order to carry ammunition, tools, etc
an obsolete word for a ducking stool

Word Origin for tumbrel

C14 tumberell ducking stool, from Medieval Latin tumbrellum from Old French tumberel dump cart, from tomber to tumble, of Germanic origin