Escapologist

/ˌɛskəˈpɒlədʒɪst/ noun

Definition

A performer, especially an entertainer like Houdini, who specializes in escaping from restraints, locked boxes, or dangerous situations as an act.

Etymology

From 'escape' plus '-o-' plus 'logy' (study of) plus '-ist' (practitioner). The term was coined in the late 1800s for performers who made escape acts their specialty.

Kelly Says

Escapologists like Houdini literally turned escape into science—they studied locks, rope physics, and human flexibility to create illusions that still seem impossible!

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