kinker
In circus slang, a kinker is a performer — the folks who actually do the acts: acrobats, clowns, aerialists, contortionists, tightrope walkers.
Definitions
In circus slang, a kinker is a performer — the folks who actually do the acts: acrobats, clowns, aerialists, contortionists, tightrope walkers. It's insider terminology from the travelling circus world, used by the performers themselves and the people who run the show. The name likely relates to the bending, twisting, and contorting that so many circus acts require. It's an affectionate piece of professional jargon that gives a window into the colourful language of the big-top world.
The kinkers were still rehearsing their aerial act at midnight, long after the crowds had gone home.
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(circus, slang) A performer in a circus.
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