Crossword Genius

Circus performer of note entertaining the French (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

flea

'circus performer' is the definition.
(as in a flea circus)

'note entertaining the french' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'fa' (fourth note in sol-fa notation: doh, ray, me...).
'entertaining' indicates putting letters inside.
'the french' becomes 'le' ('the' in French).
'fa' going around 'le' is 'FLEA'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for flea that I've seen before include "beastie?" , "Biting type" , "one is proverbially fit" , "Jumping parasite" , "Leaping insect" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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