Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various meets at which contests are held to test the skill of the competitors, as in equestrianship, gymnastics, or sports car racing.
  • noun The place where such an event is held.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A competition where riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a meet at which riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably alteration (influenced by gymnastics) of Hindi geṁd-khānā, racket court : geṁd, ball (of Dravidian origin) + khānā, house (from Persian khāna, variant of khān; see khan).]

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Examples

  • One day, I was taking my horse through its paces with a team of other riders when an Aramcon mother sitting in the stands called the gymkhana director over and demanded that I be kicked off the team.

    Crossing Mandelbaum Gate Kai Bird 2010

  • One day, I was taking my horse through its paces with a team of other riders when an Aramcon mother sitting in the stands called the gymkhana director over and demanded that I be kicked off the team.

    Crossing Mandelbaum Gate Kai Bird 2010

  • With its origins dating back to a style of horse racing (also known as gymkhana), the sport requires not only physical driving skills, but mental training as well.

    PRWeb - Daily News Feed 2010

  • I had great opposition to overcome, for the Norwegians regarded the slalom as a kind of gymkhana event "suitable for ladies and untrained Englishmen."

    Downhill Racing 1969

  • I had great opposition to overcome, for the Norwegians regarded the slalom as a kind of gymkhana event "suitable for ladies and untrained Englishmen."

    Downhill Racing 1949

  • In addition, she is helping Lucy Cigler, an adult volunteer with "It's a Cinch" 4-H Club, organize a "gymkhana" speed show for this summer at the Manitowoc County Expo.

    The Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter Latest Headlines 2009

  • In Fort the walk was mostly from home to Bombay gymkhana and the back lanes.

    Lunch at Bugle Rock Kamat Anjali 2009

  • In Fort the walk was mostly from home to Bombay gymkhana and the back lanes.

    Archive 2009-05-01 Anjali 2009

  • We have a fair on our farm every year – a gymkhana, and a dog show and a funfair and a heavy-horse show.

    This much I know: Martin Clunes 2011

  • The “farm” was a quite elaborate affair, with a clubhouse, a large gymkhana field, training rings and a grandstand for spectators.

    Crossing Mandelbaum Gate Kai Bird 2010

Comments

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  • Mind you, there were lots of other frightfully jolly girls out there, and I don't say I didn't sometimes get jolly pally with them, you know, tennis and gymkhana and all that sort of thing

    -Ginger in Waugh's Vile Bodies

    April 23, 2009