Equilibristics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The skill or practice of maintaining balance, especially in acrobatic or gymnastic performances
2. The art of keeping oneself or an object in a state of equipoise through physical control and precision
3. The technique of achieving and sustaining balance, particularly in athletic or performance contexts

Etymology: Few people would guess that the "lb" on a bag of flour and the constellation Libra share a root with this word. Latin "libra" meant a balance or a pair of scales, and it gave the Romans their pound weight. Combined with "aequus," meaning "equal," it formed "aequilibrium," literally "equal balance." That Latin term passed into French as "équilibre," and French speakers coined "équilibriste" for a performer who balances on a rope, a wire, or a hand. English borrowed that performer sense from French. The abstract noun for the skill itself adds the suffix "-ics," the same ending found in "gymnastics" and "acrobatics," so the word names the art of balancing while keeping the circus origin visible.