circus

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)ker-“to bend, turn”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromκρίκος
3. Latin · derived fromcircus“ring, circle”
4. Middle English · inherited fromcircus
5. English todaycircus

From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 18th c. A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts, that gives shows usually in a circular tent.