'acrobat' originates from French, specifically the word 'acrobate', which in turn comes from the Greek word 'akrobatos', where 'akro-' meant 'high' and 'batos' meant 'walking'.

'akrobatos' transformed into the French word 'acrobate', and eventually became the modern English word 'acrobat'.

Initially, it meant 'one who walks on tiptoe or high places', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a performer of gymnastic feats'.