Obs. Also 4–5 tombester(e, tumbestere, 5 -istere. [Feminine of OE. tumbere tumbler, dancer, acrobat: see -STER. Cf. OF. tumberesse, tumeresse (f. tomber to fall), in same sense (13th c. in Godef.).] A female tumbler or dancer. See also TUMBLESTER.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 15 (Ellesm.). And right anon thanne comen Tombesteres [Cambr. Tumbesteris; Corp., Petw., Lansd. tombl-] Fetys and smale and yonge frutesteres.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 15. In Grees was no man greitre þan Alisaundre; noþeles Perdica, a tombester [MS. β and Caxton tomblestres; Higden saltatricis] sone, was his successour, and nouȝt his owne sone.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. ii. (Skeat), l. 118. Perdicas … was of no kinges blod, his dame was a tombystere.
14[?]. MS. Harl. 2398, lf. 8. Herodias douȝter, þat was a tumbestere, and tumblede by fore him and oþer grete lordes.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, IV. ix. (1869), 180. I hatte jolyfnesse, þe lyghte, þe tumbistere, þe rennere, þe fonne, þe lepere.
