CIRCUS
NOUNS
1864 — HORSE OPERA a circus or carnival → US sl., disparaging usage
1889 — TOP a circus tent → sl.
1895 — RIDERS a circus company → Eng. dial.
1920 — DOG AND PONY SHOW a small circus → Amer. sl., derisive usage
1920 — OAKLEY a free pass, orig. to a circus, but latterly to the theatre → US sl.
1923 — DAUB an advertising poster → US circus sl.
1930 — DEAD CAT a lion, tiger, etc. that does not perform but is only exhibited → Amer. circus usage
1931 — BAG a toy balloon → Amer. circus sl.
1931 — MUG JOINT a concession where customers are photographed → US circus sl.
1953 — PALONIE a circus pony used in comedy routines → UK sl.
1953 — PUNK a young circus animal; a baby lion or elephant → UK circus sl.
1953 — SHYSTER a very poorly attended circus performance → UK sl.
1961 — DEAD PONY GAFF a bad site → UK travelling showmen’s usage
1975 — BACK YARD the performers in a circus, as opposed to the administrative staff → circus usage (Bk.)
1975 — BIG RAG the main tent of a circus; the big top → US circus usage (Bk.)
1975 — BLOOMER a location where, or a day when, business is bad; a poorly attended show or place of business; a business failure → US sl., orig. circus usage (Bk.)
1980 — BURR the recurring operating expenses in a circus or carnival → US sl.
1980 — DUKEY a lunch prepared for circus workers on long train journeys between towns → US circus sl.
1980 — DUKEY RUN a long train ride between shows → US circus sl.
1980 — EDUCATOR the ‘Billboard’ weekly newspaper → US circus sl.
1980 — JACKPOT a story of past deeds → US circus sl.
1980 — KID SHOW a circus or carnival side show → US sl.
1980 — MECHANIC any safety device worn by a circus performer → US sl.
1980 — THE X exclusive rights for an item or concession → US circus sl.
1981 — GARBAGE STAND a novelty concession → US circus sl.
1981 — TOPPER a featured act → US circus sl.
1987 — SKULL a free ticket → US circus & carnival usage
NOUNS, PERSON
1638 — OAF a circus clown
1840 — HIPPODROMIST a trainer or rider of a horse in a circus → obs.
1875 — FAKER ↔ FAKIR a circus performer, esp. a rider → circus usage
1875 — RAG a street tumbler → circus usage
1878 — GUY a customer; a patron, usually a man → Amer. circus sl.
1880 — GAFFER a circus or carnival manager → sl.
1881 — SAWDUST POUNDER a circus performer → US sl.
1895 — RIDER a performer at a circus → Eng. dial.
..20C — JERRY-COME-TUMBLE a circus performer, a tumbler → Eng. dial.
1901 — BALLYHOOER a person who performs a ballyhoo, a flamboyant free performance given outside a circus or carnival attraction in an attempt to lure customers to buy tickets for the show inside → US circus & carnival usage
1909 — KINKER a circus performer → Amer. sl.
1915 — BALLYHOO a barker at a circus or carnival → US sl.
1919 — GEEK a performer at a circus whose show consists of bizarre or grotesque acts, such as biting the head off a live animal, such as chickens or snakes → US sl.
1926 — ART performers, as distinguished from other employees → Amer. circus sl.
1928 — MINCH an unengaged, low-spending customer → US circus & carnival sl.
1930 — CAKE-CUTTER a cashier or other person who gives short change → US circus sl.
1930 — WIND-JAMMER a musician in a circus band → Amer. sl.
1933 — GILLY a member of an audience, esp. a woman → UK theatre & circus usage
1934 — DANGLER a trapeze artist → US circus sl.
1956 — WARB an unskilled circus hand → Aust. sl.
1960 — GLITTERGAL a female performer → US circus & carnival sl.
1960 — TALKER a person who entices customers into the side show → US circus sl.
1962 — PALEFACE a circus clown → Amer. circus & carnival sl. (Bk.)
1980 — NATIVE a local patron → US circus sl.
1981 — AGINNER a person morally opposed to the circus → US sl.
1981 — ALLIGATOR a circus performer’s wife → US sl.
1981 — GAWK a local who loiters as the show is assembled or taken down → US circus & carnival sl.
1981 — GILL a customer, esp. a gullible one → US circus & carnival usage
1981 — GILLY-GALLOO an outsider → US circus & carnival sl.
1981 — GYPSY an undependable employee, esp. a drunk → US circus sl.
1981 — SHYLOCK the show’s office secretary → US circus sl.
PHRASES
1953 — MISTER WOOD (or MR. WOOD) IN THE HOUSE used to describe a poorly attended circus performance → UK sl.
VERBS
..19C — GUY OUT to make the tents secure by tightening the guy-ropes → colloq., circus usage
1968 — KICK SAWDUST to follow or join a show → US circus & carnival usage
1973 — BLOW AN ARROW ↔ BUST AN ARROW to become lost when travelling from one town to another → US circus sl.
1980 — MOPE (AWAY) to quit your job in the circus → US sl.
1981 — CARRY THE BUG to work as a night watchman → US circus sl.
Lexicophilia 