Definition of gymkhana
: a meet featuring sports contests or athletic skills: such asa : competitive games on horsebackb : a timed contest for automobiles featuring a series of events designed to test driving skill
Read the Latest from M-W
gymkhana was our Word of the Day on 06/15/2013. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Recent Examples of gymkhana from the Web
-
And for the horse lovers, there was a gymkhana in the arena.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gymkhana.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Both the word gymkhana and the event it describes originated in 19th-century India. The word is probably an alteration of the Hindi "gedkhana," which describes a ball- playing area similar to a racket ball court, with the first syllable influenced by our word gymnasium. The first gymkhanas were displays of athletics and equestrian skill, and while those are still common, the 20th century introduced a new kind of gymkhana, designed to show off car handling. These newer gymkhanas are often held in parking lots, where contestants race over tight, twisting courses marked with cones or pylons.
Origin and Etymology of gymkhana
probably modification of Hindi gẽdkhāna & Urdu gendkhāna, literally, ball court
Learn More about gymkhana
-
See words that rhyme with gymkhana Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gymkhana
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gymkhana? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!