Risley act

noun

Ris·​ley act

ˈrizlē-

: a circus act in which an acrobat lying on his back juggles barrels or fellow acrobats with his feet

Word History

Etymology

after the Risley family, 19th century circus trio consisting of Richard Risley Carlisle †1874 American gymnast and circus performer and his two sons

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!