funambulist

[prettygoodword]

funambulist (fyoo-NAM-byuh-list) - n., an acrobat on a tightrope or slackwire.


Or just a tightrope walker, but often acrobatics is involved when funambulism is involved. And no, you can't be a tightrope walker on a slackwire -- the difference between the two is apparently Serious Business. Adopted in 1824 from Latin fūnambulus, same meaning -- rope dancing was a popular entertainment in ancient Rome.

---L.

Comments

[deloric.livejournal.com]

There is a documentary, Man On Wire - its really really good.
I don't think they used the word funambulist.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

It's a bit on the literary end of usage.

---L.