funambulist
/fjuːˈnambjʊlɪst
/noun
A tightrope walker.The masked funambulist Ginés de Pasamonte was disguised as the puppeteer Master Pedro?...
- Then, from one generation the next, the Venetians battled the elements like funambulists walking a tight-rope.
- After all, both men were both expert funambulists, having risen to the rank of Black Belt in the Ringling Brothers School of Aerial Arts.
Derivatives
funambulism
/ noun ...- The tightrope outside Philippe Petit's house is iced with a thick frosting of snow - as is the long pole he uses to balance when he walks the wire: so there will be no funambulism for the Frenchman today.
- As the time wore on, funambulism became almost commonplace, performers tried to outdo one another by narrowing the rope and increasing their speed.
- The trapeze artist provides a crash course in funambulism.
Origin
Late 18th century: from French funambule or Latin funambulus (from funis 'rope' + ambulare 'to walk') + -ist.