Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “circus” come from?

circus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek κρίκος, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

circus (Latin): a circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...

Definitions

  1. a circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...

Ancestry of “circus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκρίκοςring
2Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

Words derived from “circus”

  • research
  • search
  • circle
  • searching
  • circulation
  • circular
  • researcher
  • circus
  • circulate
  • researching
  • semicircle
  • semicircular
  • encircle
  • circularity
  • searchlight
  • searchable
  • searchingly
  • recirculation
  • unsearchable
  • encirclement
  • circulator
  • microcirculation
  • cirque
  • searcheth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →