circusn.

Brit.

/ˈsəːkəs/, U.S.

/ˈsərkəs/

Etymology: < Latin circus circle, circus, < Greek κίρκος, κρίκος ring, circle.

a. Roman History. A large building, generally oblong or oval, surrounded with rising tiers of seats, for the exhibition of public spectacles, horse or chariot races, and the like.The Circus Maximus, the largest and most celebrated at Rome, is often referred to specifically as the Circus.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > a public show or spectacle > [noun] > place for public shows > circus

ring?a1400

circus1546

cirque1601

dog-and-pony show1885

1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke ii. ix. 51 a A place walled about named Circus wher was vsed fyghting and coursyng of horses and running with charettes.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxii. sig. Dd1 A pleasaunt valey..like one of those Circusses, which in great cities some-where doth giue a pleasant spectacle of running horses.

1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. iii. xxi. 247 What slaughters were there in the Forum, in the Circus, and open Temples?

1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 81 Amphitheatres, Circus's, and other publick enclosed Places.

1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV cxxxix. 72 The bloody Circus' genial laws.

1877 Bryant Ruins Italica ii This broken circus..Flaunting with yellow blossoms.

b. A space or area of similar appearance or use.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > curvature > roundness > [noun] > circularity > a circle > a circular space

rotund1606

rotundo1614

cirque1644

circus1771

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker III. 123 Nothing appears but a naked circus of loose sand.

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. viii. 304 Ye Phæacians, beyond others skill'd To tread the circus with harmonious steps.

2. modern

a. A circular arena surrounded by tiers of seats, for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic, and other performances. Also transferred the company or ‘troupe’ of performers and their equipage.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus

circus1791

travelling circus1836

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus arena

circus1791

cirque1845

three-ring circus1898

one-ring circus1907

1791 (title) The History of the Royal Circus.

1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. v. 97 Entertainments at Astley's, or the Circus.

1860 R. W. Emerson Fate in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 41 The equestrians in the circus.

b. The arena for a bullfight.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > bullfighting or bullfight > [noun] > arena

list1672

plaza de toros1807

circus1812

bullring1824

1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. lxxi. 43 Then to the crowded circus forth they fare,..The light-limb'd Matadore Stands in the centre, eager to invade The lord of lowing herds.

c. A disturbance or uproar; a lively or noisy display. Also, an ’exhibition’, a ‘show’. colloquial (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > (a) noisy

rippit?1507

hubbleshowa1525

burlinga1533

hubble-shubblec1550

burle1563

coil1567

hirdy-girdy1568

riff-raff1582

rut1607

hubbuba1625

clutter1656

sputter1673

splutter1677

rattle1688

rumpus1745

ree-raw1797

bobbery1816

trevally1819

stramash1821

nitty1822

hell's delight1823

pandemonium1827

oration1828

Bob's-a-dying1829

hubbaboo1830

reerie1832

circus1869

tow-row1877

ruaille buaille1885

brouhaha1890

foofaraw1933

bangarang1943

bassa-bassa1956

1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxxiii. 358 It [sc. Constantinople] was—well, it was an eternal circus.

1885 W. L. Alden Adventures Jimmy Brown 88 Mr. Martin..sprang up, and nearly upset the table, and fell over his chair backward, and wasn't there a circus in that dining-room!

1887 Harper's Mag. May 944/1 The night grew rougher... ‘I guess it's going to be a regular circus.’

1895 W. C. Scully Kafir Stories 147 I guess we must see this circus out. If you have to shoot, aim low.

1895 C. King Fort Frayne v. 69 We'll have a circus with him.

1897 Westm. Gaz. 6 Jan. 4/3 This manœuvre was successfully carried out by about 3.30 p.m., when our force prepared to retire; and then the circus commenced.

1900 Daily News 29 Aug. 3/1 Something has gone gravely wrong with the lieutenant, otherwise he would not be making a circus of himself in this fantastic fashion.

1951 M. Kennedy Lucy Carmichael v. iii. 255 She was lovely and strange and agitating, but he did not want to turn his life into a three-ring circus.

1955 C. Hastings Uncertain Joy in Plays of Year XII. 243 Good God—is that all this three-ring circus is about?

1968 W. Warwick Surfriding in N.Z. 17/3 Weekend surfing has become one big circus, with everybody vieing for the attention of the crowd on the beach.

d. spec. A squadron of aeroplanes; a group of aircraft or their pilots engaged in skilful or spectacular flying. slang.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > air or space travel > people who fly in aircraft or spacecraft > [noun] > person in control of aircraft or spacecraft > person in control of aircraft > group engaged in skilful or spectacular flying

air circus1907

circus1917

flying circus-

1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 181 The German airmen, with their ‘travelling circuses’ of twelve to fifteen fast scouts.

1918 C. G. Grey in M. F. von Richthofen's Red Air Fighter Pref. 19 Von Richthofen's chaser squadron—or Jägdstaffel, as the Germans call these formations—was the first to be known as a ‘circus’.

1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 19 Nov. 905/3 The fortunes of one of the earliest Staffels, or flying circuses.

1957 P. Kemp Mine were of Trouble ix. 161 We saw ahead of us ‘circuses’ of our fighters diving in rotation to machine-gun the fleeing Republicans.

e. A travelling raiding party.

ΚΠ

1919 G. K. Rose 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks Lt. Infty. 58 The ugly Germans are members of a ‘travelling circus’... They are a professional raiding party, with two successful raids at Loos, one at Ypres, and one near Hébuterne to their credit.

1919 G. K. Rose 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks Light Infantry 58 Two 8-inch howitzers and several batteries of 5·9s and 4·2s belonging to the ‘circus’.

f. gen. A company, group, or set of persons acting or performing in concert, e.g. in Lawn Tennis, Motor-Racing, etc. colloquial.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > team or group

side1545

team1834

active list1880

squad1902

active roster1915

pool1936

équipe1937

outfit1940

circus1958

dressing room1985

1958 Oxf. Mag. 13 Mar. 379/2 Military–civil relations... Mr. ——'s initiative in organising what we should call a ‘circus’ on the subject at London University was a most welcome one.

1959 Observer 25 Jan. 25/5 Those of us [sc. racing drivers] constantly travelling around with the Grand Prix circus.

1959 Observer 5 Apr. 27/5 The Kramer circus comes to Britain this year immediately after Wimbledon.

1970 Observer 15 Mar. 19/2 The week-long tournament with Omar Sharif and the Bridge Circus.

3. A natural amphitheatre; a rounded hollow, or plain encircled by heights.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hollow or depression > [noun] > natural amphitheatre

amphitheatre1613

theatre1652

circus1836

cwm1853

cirque1874

kar1893

1836 B. Disraeli Henrietta Temple v. iii The party found themselves in a circus of hills, clothed with Spanish chestnuts.

1862 J. Tyndall Mountaineering in 1861 vi. 44 The circus in which the Schallenberg glacier originated.

1889 Boy's Own Paper 16 Mar. 378/1 A large lunar circus..termed the circus of Copernicus.

†4. A circle or ring. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > curvature > roundness > [noun] > a circle or ring

rounda1325

circlec1380

rigol1459

roundel1486

rundle1529

roundaboutc1535

circule1549

gyre1590

ringle1598

cirque1677

crinkle1702

circus1748

1712 A. Pope Rape of Locke ii, in Misc. Poems 366 Sooner shall Grass in Hide-park Circus grow.]

1748 London Mag. 264 On the right of the sun there was a large circus resembling the colours of a rainbow.

5. (vaguely) Compass; encircling line. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [noun] > that which surrounds

circumscription1578

skirt1617

circumference1643

recinct1654

circumplexion1660

circumambient1682

cincture1715

cordon1792

circus1817

clasp1867

girth1871

circumcincture1884

1817 Ld. Byron Lament Tasso i I have..made me wings wherewith to overfly The narrow circus of my dungeon wall.

†6. Medicine. A circular bandage. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1811 R. Hooper Quincy's Lexicon-medicum (new ed.)

7. A circular range of houses. Also, a traffic roundabout. Often in proper names as Oxford Circus, Regent Circus.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [noun] > row or street of buildings > in crescent or circle

circus1712

crescent1766

society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > junction of roads, paths, or tracks > [noun] > types of road junction > roundabout

circus1898

rond-point1903

rotonda1908

traffic circle1914

roundabout1926

rotary1940

gyratory1983

modern roundabout1987

1712 A. Pope Rape of Locke ii, in Misc. Poems 366 Sooner shall Grass in Hide-Park Circus grow. [A fashionable circular drive, called the ‘Ring’ in Chas. I's time.]

1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide ix. i. 57 To breathe a purer Air In the Circus or the Square.

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 68 The same artist, who planned the Circus, has likewise projected a Crescent [at Bath].

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 66 The Circus is a pretty bauble..and looks like Vespasian's amphitheatre turned outside in.

1794 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 85. 676 The squares and circuses are no longer the only scenes of dignified dissipation.

1898 Tit-Bits 15 Jan. 300/3 Bridges, of light and tasty design, across all the main thoroughfares, and at the various ‘circuses’ and cross roads.

Compounds

C1. attributive and in other combinations, as circus-bench, circus-horse, circus-master, circus-rider, circus-ring, circus-trick, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus arena > ring

circle1623

circus-ring1869

1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 972 A circus-bench, capable of accommodating forty persons.

1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour x. liii. 299 A circus master following a horse.

1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxx. 324 In the centre of the great circus ring..was a torn and ragged upheaval a hundred feet high.

1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. iii. 65 One of those sleeveless, legless, circus-rider's tunics.

1917 W. Owen Let. 4 Feb. (1967) 431 Cantering round..and doing all kinds of circus tricks.

1967 O. Ruhen in Coast to Coast 1965–6 191 I put my palomino through one of her circus tricks.

C2.

circus-movements n. ‘a term applied to the movement in a circle which occurs in some unilateral diseases and injuries of the grey centres at the base of the brain’ ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon).

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > convulsive or paralytic disorders > [noun] > movements characterizing

circus-movements1877

steppage1898

1877 tr. F. Obernier in tr. H. W. von Ziemssen et al. Cycl. Pract. Med. XII. 260 The..occurrence of the so-called circus-movements.

1878 M. Foster Text Bk. Physiol. (ed. 2) iii. vi. §2. 498 The animal executes ‘circus movements’.

Draft additions 1993

the Circus, a nickname for the British Secret Service (see quot. 1982).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > political police > [noun] > secret service or police > British

Special Branch1883

security service1918

MI5?1921

MI6?1921

firm1952

the Circus1963

S.B.1964

six1969

1963 ‘J. le Carré’ Spy who came in from Cold vi. 51 Who's that man in the Labour Exchange—Pitt? Wasn't he in the Circus during the war?

1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor iv. 36 In your day the Circus ran itself by regions... Control sat in heaven and held the strings.

1979 H. McLeave Borderline Case i. 3 The Georgian house where his section of the Circus worked.

1982 Verbatim Spring 1/2 Circus is highly ambiguous jargon for ‘London headquarters’; the word refers to the address at Cambridge Circus, but the expression the Circus also carries negative connotations of frivolity and confusion.

1984 B. Reid So Much Love xii. 235 He came to me..only to get some information; to use my brain, which had been so invaluable to them when I was in what they called the Circus, in the Secret Service.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	circus
释义	circusn. Brit. /ˈsəːkəs/, U.S. /ˈsərkəs/ Etymology: < Latin circus circle, circus, < Greek κίρκος, κρίκος ring, circle. 1. a. Roman History. A large building, generally oblong or oval, surrounded with rising tiers of seats, for the exhibition of public spectacles, horse or chariot races, and the like.The Circus Maximus, the largest and most celebrated at Rome, is often referred to specifically as the Circus. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > a public show or spectacle > [noun] > place for public shows > circus ring?a1400 circus1546 cirque1601 dog-and-pony show1885 1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke ii. ix. 51 a A place walled about named Circus wher was vsed fyghting and coursyng of horses and running with charettes. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxii. sig. Dd1 A pleasaunt valey..like one of those Circusses, which in great cities some-where doth giue a pleasant spectacle of running horses. 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. iii. xxi. 247 What slaughters were there in the Forum, in the Circus, and open Temples? 1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 81 Amphitheatres, Circus's, and other publick enclosed Places. 1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV cxxxix. 72 The bloody Circus' genial laws. 1877 Bryant Ruins Italica ii This broken circus..Flaunting with yellow blossoms. b. A space or area of similar appearance or use. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > curvature > roundness > [noun] > circularity > a circle > a circular space rotund1606 rotundo1614 cirque1644 circus1771 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker III. 123 Nothing appears but a naked circus of loose sand. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. viii. 304 Ye Phæacians, beyond others skill'd To tread the circus with harmonious steps. 2. modern a. A circular arena surrounded by tiers of seats, for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic, and other performances. Also transferred the company or ‘troupe’ of performers and their equipage. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus circus1791 travelling circus1836 society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus arena circus1791 cirque1845 three-ring circus1898 one-ring circus1907 1791 (title) The History of the Royal Circus. 1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. v. 97 Entertainments at Astley's, or the Circus. 1860 R. W. Emerson Fate in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 41 The equestrians in the circus. b. The arena for a bullfight. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting or baiting animals > bullfighting or bullfight > [noun] > arena list1672 plaza de toros1807 circus1812 bullring1824 1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. lxxi. 43 Then to the crowded circus forth they fare,..The light-limb'd Matadore Stands in the centre, eager to invade The lord of lowing herds. c. A disturbance or uproar; a lively or noisy display. Also, an ’exhibition’, a ‘show’. colloquial (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > (a) noisy rippit?1507 hubbleshowa1525 burlinga1533 hubble-shubblec1550 burle1563 coil1567 hirdy-girdy1568 riff-raff1582 rut1607 hubbuba1625 clutter1656 sputter1673 splutter1677 rattle1688 rumpus1745 ree-raw1797 bobbery1816 trevally1819 stramash1821 nitty1822 hell's delight1823 pandemonium1827 oration1828 Bob's-a-dying1829 hubbaboo1830 reerie1832 circus1869 tow-row1877 ruaille buaille1885 brouhaha1890 foofaraw1933 bangarang1943 bassa-bassa1956 1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxxiii. 358 It [sc. Constantinople] was—well, it was an eternal circus. 1885 W. L. Alden Adventures Jimmy Brown 88 Mr. Martin..sprang up, and nearly upset the table, and fell over his chair backward, and wasn't there a circus in that dining-room! 1887 Harper's Mag. May 944/1 The night grew rougher... ‘I guess it's going to be a regular circus.’ 1895 W. C. Scully Kafir Stories 147 I guess we must see this circus out. If you have to shoot, aim low. 1895 C. King Fort Frayne v. 69 We'll have a circus with him. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 6 Jan. 4/3 This manœuvre was successfully carried out by about 3.30 p.m., when our force prepared to retire; and then the circus commenced. 1900 Daily News 29 Aug. 3/1 Something has gone gravely wrong with the lieutenant, otherwise he would not be making a circus of himself in this fantastic fashion. 1951 M. Kennedy Lucy Carmichael v. iii. 255 She was lovely and strange and agitating, but he did not want to turn his life into a three-ring circus. 1955 C. Hastings Uncertain Joy in Plays of Year XII. 243 Good God—is that all this three-ring circus is about? 1968 W. Warwick Surfriding in N.Z. 17/3 Weekend surfing has become one big circus, with everybody vieing for the attention of the crowd on the beach. d. spec. A squadron of aeroplanes; a group of aircraft or their pilots engaged in skilful or spectacular flying. slang. ΘΚΠ society > travel > air or space travel > people who fly in aircraft or spacecraft > [noun] > person in control of aircraft or spacecraft > person in control of aircraft > group engaged in skilful or spectacular flying air circus1907 circus1917 flying circus- 1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 181 The German airmen, with their ‘travelling circuses’ of twelve to fifteen fast scouts. 1918 C. G. Grey in M. F. von Richthofen's Red Air Fighter Pref. 19 Von Richthofen's chaser squadron—or Jägdstaffel, as the Germans call these formations—was the first to be known as a ‘circus’. 1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 19 Nov. 905/3 The fortunes of one of the earliest Staffels, or flying circuses. 1957 P. Kemp Mine were of Trouble ix. 161 We saw ahead of us ‘circuses’ of our fighters diving in rotation to machine-gun the fleeing Republicans. e. A travelling raiding party. ΚΠ 1919 G. K. Rose 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks Lt. Infty. 58 The ugly Germans are members of a ‘travelling circus’... They are a professional raiding party, with two successful raids at Loos, one at Ypres, and one near Hébuterne to their credit. 1919 G. K. Rose 2/4th Oxf. & Bucks Light Infantry 58 Two 8-inch howitzers and several batteries of 5·9s and 4·2s belonging to the ‘circus’. f. gen. A company, group, or set of persons acting or performing in concert, e.g. in Lawn Tennis, Motor-Racing, etc. colloquial. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > team or group side1545 team1834 active list1880 squad1902 active roster1915 pool1936 équipe1937 outfit1940 circus1958 dressing room1985 1958 Oxf. Mag. 13 Mar. 379/2 Military–civil relations... Mr. ——'s initiative in organising what we should call a ‘circus’ on the subject at London University was a most welcome one. 1959 Observer 25 Jan. 25/5 Those of us [sc. racing drivers] constantly travelling around with the Grand Prix circus. 1959 Observer 5 Apr. 27/5 The Kramer circus comes to Britain this year immediately after Wimbledon. 1970 Observer 15 Mar. 19/2 The week-long tournament with Omar Sharif and the Bridge Circus. 3. A natural amphitheatre; a rounded hollow, or plain encircled by heights. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > hollow or depression > [noun] > natural amphitheatre amphitheatre1613 theatre1652 circus1836 cwm1853 cirque1874 kar1893 1836 B. Disraeli Henrietta Temple v. iii The party found themselves in a circus of hills, clothed with Spanish chestnuts. 1862 J. Tyndall Mountaineering in 1861 vi. 44 The circus in which the Schallenberg glacier originated. 1889 Boy's Own Paper 16 Mar. 378/1 A large lunar circus..termed the circus of Copernicus. †4. A circle or ring. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > curvature > roundness > [noun] > a circle or ring rounda1325 circlec1380 rigol1459 roundel1486 rundle1529 roundaboutc1535 circule1549 gyre1590 ringle1598 cirque1677 crinkle1702 circus1748 1712 A. Pope Rape of Locke ii, in Misc. Poems 366 Sooner shall Grass in Hide-park Circus grow.] 1748 London Mag. 264 On the right of the sun there was a large circus resembling the colours of a rainbow. 5. (vaguely) Compass; encircling line. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [noun] > that which surrounds circumscription1578 skirt1617 circumference1643 recinct1654 circumplexion1660 circumambient1682 cincture1715 cordon1792 circus1817 clasp1867 girth1871 circumcincture1884 1817 Ld. Byron Lament Tasso i I have..made me wings wherewith to overfly The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. †6. Medicine. A circular bandage. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1811 R. Hooper Quincy's Lexicon-medicum (new ed.) 7. A circular range of houses. Also, a traffic roundabout. Often in proper names as Oxford Circus, Regent Circus. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [noun] > row or street of buildings > in crescent or circle circus1712 crescent1766 society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > junction of roads, paths, or tracks > [noun] > types of road junction > roundabout circus1898 rond-point1903 rotonda1908 traffic circle1914 roundabout1926 rotary1940 gyratory1983 modern roundabout1987 1712 A. Pope Rape of Locke ii, in Misc. Poems 366 Sooner shall Grass in Hide-Park Circus grow. [A fashionable circular drive, called the ‘Ring’ in Chas. I's time.] 1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide ix. i. 57 To breathe a purer Air In the Circus or the Square. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 68 The same artist, who planned the Circus, has likewise projected a Crescent [at Bath]. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 66 The Circus is a pretty bauble..and looks like Vespasian's amphitheatre turned outside in. 1794 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 85. 676 The squares and circuses are no longer the only scenes of dignified dissipation. 1898 Tit-Bits 15 Jan. 300/3 Bridges, of light and tasty design, across all the main thoroughfares, and at the various ‘circuses’ and cross roads. Compounds C1. attributive and in other combinations, as circus-bench, circus-horse, circus-master, circus-rider, circus-ring, circus-trick, etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > circus arena > ring circle1623 circus-ring1869 1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 972 A circus-bench, capable of accommodating forty persons. 1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour x. liii. 299 A circus master following a horse. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxx. 324 In the centre of the great circus ring..was a torn and ragged upheaval a hundred feet high. 1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. iii. 65 One of those sleeveless, legless, circus-rider's tunics. 1917 W. Owen Let. 4 Feb. (1967) 431 Cantering round..and doing all kinds of circus tricks. 1967 O. Ruhen in Coast to Coast 1965–6 191 I put my palomino through one of her circus tricks. C2. circus-movements n. ‘a term applied to the movement in a circle which occurs in some unilateral diseases and injuries of the grey centres at the base of the brain’ ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon). ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > convulsive or paralytic disorders > [noun] > movements characterizing circus-movements1877 steppage1898 1877 tr. F. Obernier in tr. H. W. von Ziemssen et al. Cycl. Pract. Med. XII. 260 The..occurrence of the so-called circus-movements. 1878 M. Foster Text Bk. Physiol. (ed. 2) iii. vi. §2. 498 The animal executes ‘circus movements’. Draft additions 1993 the Circus, a nickname for the British Secret Service (see quot. 1982). ΘΚΠ society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > political police > [noun] > secret service or police > British Special Branch1883 security service1918 MI5?1921 MI6?1921 firm1952 the Circus1963 S.B.1964 six1969 1963 ‘J. le Carré’ Spy who came in from Cold vi. 51 Who's that man in the Labour Exchange—Pitt? Wasn't he in the Circus during the war? 1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor iv. 36 In your day the Circus ran itself by regions... Control sat in heaven and held the strings. 1979 H. McLeave Borderline Case i. 3 The Georgian house where his section of the Circus worked. 1982 Verbatim Spring 1/2 Circus is highly ambiguous jargon for ‘London headquarters’; the word refers to the address at Cambridge Circus, but the expression the Circus also carries negative connotations of frivolity and confusion. 1984 B. Reid So Much Love xii. 235 He came to me..only to get some information; to use my brain, which had been so invaluable to them when I was in what they called the Circus, in the Secret Service. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1546
随便看	run ashore run at check run at random run at riot run at shack run at the ring run at the tilt run at tilt run athwart run atilt run away run away with run away with it run awry run back the heel run before run before one can go run before one can walk run before one's horse to market run before the wind run bias run blocker run blocking run boat run by