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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
− | ''Circus'' derives from [[Latin]] "''circus''", which is the romanization of the [[Greek]] "κίρκος" (''kirkos''), itself a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metathesis_(linguistics) metathesis] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeric_Greek Homeric Greek] "κρίκος" (''krikos''), meaning "[[circle]]" or "ring". | + | ''Circus'' derives from [[Latin]] "''circus''", which is the romanization of the [[Greek]] "κίρκος" (''kirkos''), itself a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metathesis_(linguistics) metathesis] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeric_Greek Homeric Greek] "κρίκος" (''krikos''), meaning "[[circle]]" or "ring". |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1a : a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on [[three]] or all four sides and used especially for [[sports]] or [[spectacles]] (as [[athletic]] [[contests]], exhibitions of horsemanship, or in [[ancient]] times chariot racing) | | *1a : a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on [[three]] or all four sides and used especially for [[sports]] or [[spectacles]] (as [[athletic]] [[contests]], exhibitions of horsemanship, or in [[ancient]] times chariot racing) |
| :b : a [[public]] [[spectacle]] | | :b : a [[public]] [[spectacle]] |
− | *2a : an arena often covered by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent tent] and used for variety shows usually including feats of [[physical]] [[skill]], wild [[animal]] acts, and [[performances]] by [[clowns]] | + | *2a : an arena often covered by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent tent] and used for variety shows usually including feats of [[physical]] [[skill]], wild [[animal]] acts, and [[performances]] by [[clowns]] |
| :b : a circus [[performance]] | | :b : a circus [[performance]] |
| :c : the [[physical]] plant, livestock, and personnel of such a circus | | :c : the [[physical]] plant, livestock, and personnel of such a circus |
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| :b British : a usually [[circular]] area at an [[intersection]] of streets | | :b British : a usually [[circular]] area at an [[intersection]] of streets |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | A '''circus''' is commonly a [[traveling]] company of [[performers]] that may include [[clowns]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrobatics acrobats], [[trained]] animals, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapeze trapeze acts], musicians, hoopers, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tightrope_walker tightrope walkers], [[jugglers]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicycle unicyclists] and other stunt-oriented artists. The [[word]] also describes the [[performance]] that they give, which is usually a [[series]] of acts that are told how to play [[music]] and introduced by a "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringmaster_(circus) ringmaster]". A traditional circus performance is normally held in a ring 13m (42ft) in [[diameter]]. This [[dimension]] was adopted by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Astley Philip Astley] to enable a horse rider to stand upright on a cantering horse to perform a series of acrobatic manoeuvres and to more easily retain their [[balance]]. Most [[modern]] circuses have a system of tiered seating around the ring for the [[public]] and since the late 19th early 20th century the [[performance]] has taken place under canvas and more recently plastic tents commonly called "The Big Top" .[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus] | + | A '''circus''' is commonly a [[traveling]] company of [[performers]] that may include [[clowns]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrobatics acrobats], [[trained]] animals, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapeze trapeze acts], musicians, hoopers, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tightrope_walker tightrope walkers], [[jugglers]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicycle unicyclists] and other stunt-oriented artists. The [[word]] also describes the [[performance]] that they give, which is usually a [[series]] of acts that are told how to play [[music]] and introduced by a "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringmaster_(circus) ringmaster]". A traditional circus performance is normally held in a ring 13m (42ft) in [[diameter]]. This [[dimension]] was adopted by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Astley Philip Astley] to enable a horse rider to stand upright on a cantering horse to perform a series of acrobatic manoeuvres and to more easily retain their [[balance]]. Most [[modern]] circuses have a system of tiered seating around the ring for the [[public]] and since the late 19th early 20th century the [[performance]] has taken place under canvas and more recently plastic tents commonly called "The Big Top" .[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus] |
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| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |