Pertaining to athletic exercises intended for health, defense, or diversion; -- originally said of games or exercises, as running, leaping, wrestling, throwing the discus, the javelin, etc.; in modern times more specifically applied to athletic exercises demonstrating balance and agility, such as tumbling, somersaulting, and bodily maneuvers performed on special equipment such as parallel bars or a balance beam; as, gymnastic exercises, contests, etc. [1913 Webster]