[1880–85; circum- + circle]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: highball, interface, irredentist, jackpot, regionalismcircum- is a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in Latin loanwords, esp.derivatives of verbs that had the general senses “to encompass or surround” (circumference; circumjacent; circumstance) or “to go around” by the means or in the manner specified by the verb (circumnavigate; circumscribe)