Etymologically
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circus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈsɜː.kəs/, US /ˈsɝː.kəs/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin circus (“ring, circular line”) (see circle),[2][3][4] related to Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos), krikos, ring,[4][5] perhaps from a root meaning “to turn, bend”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The large oblong or oval arena of ancient Rome used for races and shows: about 1380, in Chaucer's Boethius, probably in reference to the Circus Maximus;[2][3] 1546 in the OED.[6]

Semantic evolution

A circular arena with tiers of seats for horsemanship and acrobatics is from 1791,[2][3][6] and the sense passed to the performing company and its show, hence a travelling circus (1838).[3][7] The American Heritage note observes that the modern circus took its name, but fortunately not its programme, from the ancient games.[5] A group of buildings in a ring, or a circular road, is from the early 18th century, as in Piccadilly Circus.[3][4] A lively uproar is from 1869, at first American,[3][6] and in World War I a squadron of aircraft was a circus.[3][6]

Timeline

  • c. 1380 – a Roman arena.[2]
  • early 18th century – a ring of buildings.[3]
  • 1791 – a circus arena.[2][6]
  • 1838 – a travelling circus.[3]
  • 1869 – an uproar.[3][6]
  • 1917 – a squadron of aircraft.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A travelling company of acrobats, clowns and trained animals, or the show it gives.
  2. An arena, often in a tent, for such shows.
  3. In ancient Rome, an oval arena for chariot races and games.
  4. (UK) A circular open space where streets meet: Piccadilly Circus.
  5. (informal) A noisy or chaotic scene.

Word family

  • circusy
  • bread and circuses
  • three-ring circus
  • flying circus
  • Piccadilly Circus

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press