funambulist

American  

[fyoo-nam-byuh-list] / fyuˈnæm byə lɪst /

noun

1. a tightrope walker.

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funambulist British  

/ fjuːˈnæmbjʊlɪst /

noun

1. a tightrope walker

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Other Word Forms

• funambulism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of funambulist

1785–95; < Latin fūnambul ( us ) “ropedancer” (from fūn(is) “rope, line” + ambul(āre) “to walk” + -us, noun suffix; cf. funiculus, amble) + -ist

Explanation

The key to remembering funambulist is "ambulate," which comes from the Latin root meaning "to walk" — in this case referring to someone who walks on a tightrope. Funambulist isn't related to the word fun in the sense of "an enjoyable activity" — although you might find it enjoyable to learn to walk a tightrope or, if you're afraid of heights, to watch someone else walk a tightrope. The "fun" in funambulist comes from the Latin funis, or "rope."

Related Words

• clown
• dancer
• gymnast
• performer
• tumbler