tum|mler

tum|mler «_TOOM luhr», noun.

1. a person who creates noisy excitement or commotion; a live wire: »

At parties, he sang with willed gusto—a tummler, as one of his colleagues described him, meaning someone who stirred things up, a noisemaker (James Atlas).

2. a comic entertainer and social director, especially in U.S. vacation spots from the 1920's through the 1960's. A modern jester, the tummler acted as emcee and performer, organizing entertainment and schmoozing with guests. »

We both worked in the Borscht Belt—he as a tummler, me as a waiter. (Los Angeles Times).

╂[< Yiddish tummler ]