bonspiel

American  

[bon-speel] / ˈbɒnˌspil /

noun

1. a competition or meet in curling at which teams from several clubs or districts compete with one another.

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bonspiel British  

/ -spəl, ˈbɒnˌspiːl /

noun

1. a curling match

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Etymology

Origin of bonspiel

1555–65; Scots dial., perhaps < Dutch or Low German; compare Dutch spel game, play ( Middle Dutch, cognate with Old High German spil, German Spiel ); identity of first element uncertain

Example Sentences

And we’re not at some bonspiel in Saskatchewan just trying things out.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

“I still can’t believe Shustie gave up the opportunity to defend our title in the bonspiel to curl in Beijing,” Cameron joked.

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2022

In curling, a "rink" is a team, a "tee" is a goal, a "skip" is a captain, a "bonspiel" is a meet.

From Time Magazine Archive

A bonspiel is a curling tournament between clubs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Once upon a time four Ashcroft Napoleons, known locally as "Father," "Deacon," "Cyclone," and "Skookum," invaded Vancouver to demonstrate at an inter-provincial curling bonspiel that was arranged to take place at that city.

From Skookum Chuck Fables Bits of History, Through the Microscope by Cumming, R. D. (Robert Dalziel)