Greek 'akrobates' — literally 'high-walker,' from 'akros' (topmost) + 'bainein' (to walk). Originally a tightrope act.
A performer of spectacular gymnastic feats, such as walking on a tightrope, performing aerial flips, or executing other feats of agility and balance.
From French acrobate, from Greek akrobatēs (one who walks on tiptoe, a high-walker), from akro- (high, at the tip or edge) + bainein (to walk, to go, to step), from PIE *gwen- / *gweh2- (to go, to come, to walk). Greek akros (at the tip) derives from PIE *h2ek- (sharp, pointed, at the edge). The same *gweh2- root gives Latin venire (to come), Sanskrit gam- (to go), and Old
An 'acrobat' literally 'walks at the heights' — from the same Greek 'akros' (topmost) that gives us 'acropolis' (the high city) and 'acrophobia' (fear of heights). The '-bat' part is from 'bainein' (to walk), which also hides inside 'diabetes' (from Greek 'diabainein,' to walk through — describing frequent urination).