1859, "acrobatic performances or feats," from acrobatic; also see -ics. Also acrobatism (1864). Acrobacy (1918, from French acrobatie) sometimes was used. Figurative use is attested by 1915.
Entries linking to acrobatics
acrobatic adj.
"of or pertaining to an acrobat or an acrobat's performances," 1848; see acrobat + -ic, probably modeled on French acrobatique. Related: Acrobatically.
-ics
in the names of sciences or disciplines (acoustics, aerobics, economics, etc.), a 16c. revival of the classical custom of using the neuter plural of adjectives with Greek -ikos "pertaining to" (see -ic) to mean "matters relevant to" and also as the titles of treatises about them. Subject matters that acquired their English names before c. 1500, however, tend to be singular in form (arithmetic, logic, magic, music, rhetoric). The grammatical number of words in -ics (mathematics is/mathematics are) is a confused question.
aerobatics n.
"aircraft tricks, trick flying," 1914, from aero- + ending from acrobatics. Earlier (1879) it meant "the art of constructing and using airships; aerial navigation; aeronautics."