aerialist

[ air-ee-uh-list, ey-eer-ee-uh- ]

noun

1. a trapeze artist.
2. Slang. a burglar who gains entrance to a building or apartment by leaping from rooftop to rooftop, sliding down ropes, or the like.

aerialist

/ ˈɛərɪəlɪst /

noun

1. a trapeze artist or tightrope walker

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerialist¹

First recorded in 1900–05; aerial + -ist

Example Sentences

Every night they’re open, Tuesdays through Saturdays, there is some form of entertainment happening during prime dinner hours, from jazz and Americana music to aerialist shows.

From Seattle Times

But after all that, the scheduled aerialist was out sick.

From Seattle Times

In the spring of 2004, Ron W. Bailey, a musician who has performed in the gutters of Pike Place Market, gathered a few of his friends — a bubble magician, an aerialist, a clown and several actors from the Fremont Players community theater group — and started Seattle’s own vaudeville and variety show: the Moisture Festival.

From Seattle Times

“The reason that I was so interested in doing Dracula is because Dracula as a character is naturally a shapeshifter. It lended itself towards contortionists, towards flying through the air with an aerialist, towards motion in general,” says Mann, who was drawn to circus entertainment but is also an accomplished contemporary dancer and choreographer as well.

From Los Angeles Times

With Dracula poised to assassinate her longtime rival, Tan rightfully brought this sensibility, and her aerialist abilities, to the role.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aviator
• captain
• flier
• leader
• navigator