noun
- an unskilled laborer who does temporary or odd jobs, especially on oil rigs, docks, or circuses
Usage: informal
Examples
- He worked as a roustabout on an offshore oil rig for two years.
- The circus hired several roustabouts to help set up the big tent.
- After losing his office job, he took work as a roustabout at the shipyard.
- Roustabouts loaded and unloaded cargo from the freight ships.
- The oil company needed experienced roustabouts for the drilling operation.
- She started as a roustabout but eventually became a crew supervisor.