circ

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /sɝk/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sɜːk/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k
• Homophone: cirque

Etymology 1

See circus.

Noun

circ (plural circs)

1. (obsolete) An amphitheatrical circle for sports; a circus.
   • 1774-1781, Thomas Warton, History of English Poetry:

     It is remarkable, that circs of the same ſort are still to be seen in Cornwall

Etymology 2

Clipping of circumcision. Clipping of circumcise.

Noun

circ (plural circs)

1. (informal) Circumcision.
   • 2001, Richard Gordon, Great Medical Mysteries, House of Stratus, published 2001, →ISBN, page 65:

     During the pre-NHS 1930s, circumcision was as fashionable among the British middle class as confirmation. Breech deliveries were said to be popular with both obstetrician and anaesthetist, a boy assuring them early in the birth of 'a couple of guineas next week for the circ.'

   • 2011, Michelle Au, This Won't Hurt a Bit (and Other White Lies): My Education in Medicine and Motherhood‎, Grand Central Publishing, →ISBN:

     The circ is progressing apace when, without warning, one of the nurses bursts in from outside, and I mean bursts in, as opposed to entering soundlessly and unobtrusively as we all try to (with the exception of the attending surgeons, who always burst in), and tells us, "Someone just crashed a plane into one of the Twin Towers."

   • 2011, Maggie Kozel, The Color of Atmosphere: One Doctor's Journey In and Out of Medicine, Chelsea Green Publishing, published 2011, →ISBN, page 50:

     Ironically, our Japanese-born colleague Seiji, who came from a culture that did not circumcise, had no problem with it. In fact, he was amazing to behold. Seiji could finish a "slice and dice," as we called it, before I could even get my gloves on. Bob and I would change every poopy, slimy diaper in that nursery just to stall until Seiji finished the circs.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:circ.

Derived terms

• anti-circ
• pro-circ

Verb

circ (third-person singular simple present circs, present participle circing, simple past and past participle circed)

1. (informal) To circumcise.
   • 1998 May 18, Barbara Fraire, “Re: OT/formula moms love babies less??”, in misc.kids.breastfeeding‎ (Usenet):

     Again, I don't think I was *wrong* to circ my son, though some may choose to disagree quite loudly with that statement; I just think not circing is a better decision.

   • 2000 January 1, Wade & Litha, “Re: The dreaded circ issue rears its ugly head in my house!”, in misc.kids.pregnancy‎ (Usenet):

     I'm not stating how i feel either way but i like it that my husband was circed.

   • 2007, Nick J. Myers III, Sex & Sensuality: Essays on Fun Stuff‎, iUniverse, published 2007, →ISBN:

     If a person was circed they have to live with it, or attempt partial restoration, but on the whole IMO a whole penis is more beautiful than a mutilated one.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:circ.

See also

• circs (circumstances)

Anagrams

• ICRC, cric

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin circus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈsirk]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈsiɾk]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

Noun

circ m (plural circs)

1. circus
2. (geography) cirque

Related terms

• circense

Further reading

• “circ”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “circ”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
• “circ” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.