juggler

[ juhg-ler ]

noun

1. a person who performs juggling feats, as with balls or knives.
2. a person who deceives by trickery; trickster.

ˈjuggler

/ ˈdʒʌɡlə /

noun

1. a person who juggles, esp a professional entertainer
2. a person who fraudulently manipulates facts or figures

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggler¹

before 1100; Middle English jogelour, jogeler, jugelour < Anglo-French jogelour, jugelur, Old French jogleor, jougleor ( jongleur ) ≪ Latin joculātor joker, equivalent to joculā ( rī ) ( juggle ) + -tor -tor; replacing Old English gēogelere magician, cognate with German Gaukler, both directly < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Instead, the bookworm twins are forced to witness their father, Percy, further wither and drink himself away: He’s a former Parisian juggler in a wheelchair after being hit by a drunk driver.

From Los Angeles Times

So now I'm a writer and a hustler: coach, software entrepreneur, ghostwriter, teacher, juggler — my decision.

From Salon

“I want to pray for Larry, a visitor to the circus every year in Escondido, who I would chat with often. He knew many performer’s names. He passed away in April, and I just found out,” says juggler and unicyclist Emil Faltyny.

From Los Angeles Times

Without really knowing it, every circus attendee shows up to see if the juggler will keep the balls in the air, if the flying trapeze artist will catch their partner, if the rider will survive the Globe.

From Los Angeles Times

In these scenes, it’s hard to take your eyes off the glinting McAvoy, who’s like some fiendish juggler of items both benign and dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conjurer