Daily Vocabulary for Better Conversation

For the rock band, see Trapeze (band).

An acrobat below a balloon

Trapeze artists, in lithograph by Calvert Litho. Co., 1890.

A trapeze is a horizontal cross-bar used by acrobats (more specifically, aerialists). It is often popularly associated with circuses.

The trapeze is a short bar that is hung by two cords from a support higher up; when these cords and the support are included, the trapeze is shaped like a trapezoid.

Static trapeze refers to a trapeze act in which the performer moves around the bar and ropes while the bar itself stays mostly in place. Swinging trapeze refers to an act done while the trapeze swings. The performer builds up swing from a still position, and uses the momentum of the swing to make the moves easier and more exciting.

In flying trapeze, a performer, or flyer, grabs the trapeze bar and jumps off a high platform, or pedestal board, so gravity creates the swing. The swing's parts are the cast out at the far end of the first swing, the beat back and rise as the performer swings back above the pedestal board, and then the trick is thrown at the far end of the second swing. The performer often releases the bar and is caught by another performer, the catcher, who hangs by his knees on another trapeze, or sometimes on a cradle, which can be either stationery or also swinging. A flyer rarely weighs more than about 150 pounds to avoid damaging the catcher's shoulders, although people of any size are able to execute basic trapeze maneuvers. Flying trapeze is done over a net, or occasionally over water for a special exhibition. Unlike the dramatic moment in the movie, Trapeze, it is NEVER done over hard ground.

The flying trapeze was invented in the late 19th Century in France by Jules Leotard. He did his moves from one swinging trapeze to another that had been released by his father who was standing on a platform. He also said to have invented the full length skin tight costume that now bears his name.

The flying trapeze and its association with circuses was made even more popular by the 1867 George Leybourne song The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, which was based on the success of trapeze artist Jules Lotard. The greatest flyer of all time may still be Alfredo Codona of Mexico who set standards of skill and style in the 1920's that many aspire to and few achieve.

In dinghy sailing, a trapeze is a system used to allow the crew to hang their weight outside the boat for more effective hiking.

In recreational diving and technical diving, a decompression trapeze is a tool used to make decompression stops more secure and comfortable.

During parasite fighter experiments the system used to lower the fighters into launch positions and to raise them back into the host aircraft after flights was called a trapeze.

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