harry houdini

English - English

Definition of harry houdini in English English dictionary

a US magician (=an entertainer who performs magic tricks) , who became famous for his great skill at escaping from chains, handcuffs, and locked containers, even when he was under water (1874-1926). orig. Erik Weisz born March 24, 1874, Budapest, Hung. died Oct. 31, 1926, Detroit, Mich., U.S. U.S. magician. The son of a rabbi who emigrated from Hungary to the U.S. and settled in Wisconsin, he became a trapeze performer at an early age. In 1882 he moved to New York City, where he played in vaudeville shows without much success. From about 1900 he earned an international reputation for his daring feats of escape from locked boxes, often submerged, while shackled in chains and handcuffed. His success depended on his great strength and agility and his unusual skill in manipulating locks. He exhibited his abilities in several films (1916-23). In his later years he campaigned against magicians and mind readers who claimed supernatural powers, including Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, from whom Houdini had taken his name

Hyphenation

har·ry Hou·di·ni

Turkish pronunciation

heri hudini

Pronunciation

/ˈherē ho͞oˈdēnē/ /ˈhɛriː huːˈdiːniː/