Where does “circus” come from?
circus (Middle English) comes from Latin circus, from Ancient Greek κρίκος, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.
Ancestry of “circus”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | circus | a circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κρίκος | ring |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ḱer- | dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth |