Handbalancer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An acrobat or circus performer who supports their body weight on their hands while balancing in various positions
2. A gymnast or entertainer who performs feats of equilibrium by standing, moving, or posing upside down on their hands
3. An athlete skilled in maintaining balance while supporting themselves on their hands in dramatic or difficult configurations

Etymology: A handbalancer is a compound of "hand" and "balancer," meaning a person or device that balances something held in the hand, or someone who performs balancing feats with the hands. The two parts are plain English words with no hidden history: "hand" comes from Old English "hand," and "balancer" is an agent form built from "balance," which passed into English from Old French "balance" and ultimately from Latin "bilanx," meaning "having two scales." The result is a transparent coinage, so the word's meaning follows directly from its parts. The "-er" ending turns the verb "balance" into a noun for the one doing the balancing, and placing "hand" in front specifies where the balancing happens. Its use is largely confined to circus and performance contexts, where a performer balances objects or their own body on hands.

Synonyms: acrobat, performer