Circus: [2] [1] A public entertainment consisting typically of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns, and trained animals.

[2] Latin for “ring,” its first use was for the arena of Roman antiquity, an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent.

[3] The term ‘circus’ also describes the performance which has followed various formats through its 150 year modern history.