sideshowmann.
/ˈsʌɪdʃəʊmən/, U.S. /ˈsaɪdˌʃoʊmən/ A person who performs at or introduces a sideshow.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > a public show or spectacle > [noun] > show-people > showman
exhibitera1616
exhibitor1654
showman1728
traveller1762
slang cove1789
exhibitioner1791
sideshowman1858
mud showman1927
1858 Daily Cleveland (Ohio) Herald 8 Oct. The cameo auctioneer grew more prosy in his speeches, and the side showman became less anxious for customers.
1895 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Jrnl. 23 Nov. 5/6 Christian Schlisser, a sideshowman of Indianapolis, had diphtheria in his family.
1908 M. Mayo Polly of Circus xii. 145 The side-showman was already beginning his spiel in the lot below.
1938 Times 3 June 1/3 (advt.) Young man, 24, ex-radio announcer, sideshowman, trained salesman,..wants interesting job.
2004 M. Dregni Django i. 3 He could juggle with the best circus sideshowmen and tease audiences with the mysteries of legerdemain.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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