English
equilibrist
Equilibrist comes from French équilibriste ‘balance artist’, and goes back to Latin aequilibrium ‘a level or horizontal position, equilibrium’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequilibrium‘a level or horizontal position, equilibrium’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentéquilibre‘balance’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentéquilibriste‘balance artist’
- Englishtodayequilibrist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequilibrium‘a level or horizontal position, equilibrium’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentéquilibre‘balance’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentéquilibriste‘balance artist’
- Englishtodayequilibrist
first attested First attested in the mid 18th century (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in the mid 18th century.
Every English word from Latin aequilibrium
Today it means
noun A tightrope walker.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin aequilibrium / equilibrist