The diabolo (commonly misspelled as diablo, formerly also known as "the devil on two sticks") is a juggling prop consisting of a spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. A huge variety of tricks are possible using the sticks, string, and various body parts. Multiple diabolos can be spun on a single string.

Diabolos come in different shapes and materials. Large/heavier diabolos tend to retain their momentum for longer, whereas small/light diabolos can be thrown higher and are faster to get spinning quickly. Rubber diabolos are less prone to breakage; metal diabolos can be set on fire using some wick and fuel. One-sided diabolos are also available but are more difficult to use.

History

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Diabolos evolved from the Chinese yo-yo. Chinese yo-yos have a long thin axle, with disc-shaped wheels, while the western diabolo is more cone-shaped. For a comparison, see a picture of a diabolo here and a picture of a Chinese yo-yo here.

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