horizontal bar

American  

noun

Gymnastics.

1. a bar fixed in a position parallel to the floor or ground, for use in chinning and other exercises.

2. an event in gymnastic competitions, judged on strength and grace while performing specific movements on such a bar.

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horizontal bar British  

noun

1. Also called: high bar.  gymnastics a raised bar on which swinging and vaulting exercises are performed

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Etymology

Origin of horizontal bar

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

“We” was printed on the back on top of a horizontal bar and the word “me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2025

The agent had to grab a horizontal bar as well, doing so with his left hand across his body.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

But Mr. Moore never thought he had the athletic ability to swing, stretch out, then fly from a long horizontal bar, often 30 feet in the air.

From New York Times • Sep. 20, 2022

Uchimura, who last won the horizontal bar world title in 2015, was sixth with 14.600 points in what could have been his last world championships.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2021

The Maya used a dot to signify one and a horizontal bar to signify five; the number nineteen would thus be three bars and four dots.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann