subs. (colloquial).—A seat for servants at the back of a carriage: also RUMBLE-TUMBLE (which likewise [GROSE and VAUX]) = a stage coach. See DICKEY and quot. 1830.
1830. BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford, xxv. His favourite servant sat in the dickey in front (RUMBLE-TUMBLES not being then in use). Ibid. (1858), What Will He Do, &c., I. 15. From the dusty height of a RUMBLE-TUMBLE … Vance caught sight of Lionel and Sophy.
1848. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xiv. A discontented female in a green veil and crimped curls on the RUMBLE.
Verb. (old).—To try; to search; to handle.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, 14. I was RUMBLING the cloys of the twigs.
1886–96. MARSHALL, Beautiful Dreamer [‘Pomes,’ 65]. I RUMBLED the tip as a matter of course.
1898. BINSTEAD, A Pink ’Un and a Pelican, 209. I soon RUMBLED he was in it when I heard Ball givin’ him the ‘me lord’ for it.
