Tumblehome

Model of a French 74-gun ship from 1755 showing tumblehome as its hull narrows rising to the upper deck

Tumblehome is a term describing a hull which grows narrower above the waterline than its beam. The opposite of tumblehome is flare.

A small amount of tumblehome is normal in many naval architecture designs in order to allow any small projections at deck level to clear wharves.[1]

The term is also applied to automotive design, where a vehicle's sides taper inward as they go up. This includes a roof tapering in, and curved window glass.

  1. ^ Pursey p. 218.