kinker

plural kinkers

1. slangartsA performer in a circus.

   […] the high trapeze "kinkers" go through their "flying" act; but in a montage treatment of filming the children's trip to the circus, it could be used with striking effect as a comment on their imitation of the thrilling action.

   1933, Amateur Movie Makers, volume 8, page 150

   1 more example

   "So, what's the vernacular then?" I say finally. ¶ "They're called kinkers," says Camel..."don't you go calling them 'kinkers' to their faces, neither." ¶ "What do I call them?" ¶ "Performers...There's them and there's us, and you're us," says Camel.

   2006, Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, pages 36–37