Gambole

[Brum1]

We were visiting in Staffordshire earlier today. The kids were playing and the word "gambole" cropped up. "What does that mean", they asked? They use "forward roll"
It would seem that "gambole" is not a widely used word.

Or is it??????

Brum

 

[Parksy]

It is in the Black Country

Spring lambs are said to be 'gambolling' when they skip, although you don't see many spring lambs gambolling around the Black Country, they are more commonly seen on butchers hooks here.

When we were kids if we were skipping along, doing cartwheels or tumbling around we were said to be gambolling.
Not to be confused with 'riling' (pronounced 'ry-ling') which was fidgeting when being held by a parent or adult.

 

[RogerL]

According to the British Library, a gambol is a forward roll in Birmingham - which is most certainly NOT in the Black Country or Staffordshire - but of course many Brummies have been relocated in nearby counties as part of the 1960's and 1970's overspill programmes.
Universally, to gambol is to move about playfully, to frolic.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Where I grew up, pit village in Nottinghamshire in 50s, gambol was to roll head over heels. It was also used to denote young lambs skipping about like they sometimes do.