noun / verb
stunt
STUHNT/stʌnt/
An extraordinary trick performed to attract attention.
The cyclist performs a stunt by balancing on the rear wheel atop the platform.
Etymology
The attention-getting feat sense is recorded in American college sports slang and later spread to aviation and stage performance. Its origin is uncertain; a connection with stump meaning “dare, challenge” is only speculative.
In context
this is the scene of children being massacred it is no place for a publicity stunt they could have gone together and donated blood or made donations to the community
More examples
- The company stages a publicity stunt to attract new customers.
- A trained double performs the dangerous stunts in this movie.
- The pilots stunt above the airfield during the show.
Forms
stunt · stunts · stunted · stunting
stuntman noun — a man who performs dangerous movie tricks