ninepins

[ nahyn-pinz ]

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) tenpins played without the head pin.
2. ninepin, a pin used in this game.

ninepins

/ ˈnaɪnˌpɪnz /

noun

1. See skittle
   functioning as singular another name for skittles See skittle
2. singular one of the pins used in this game

Word History and Origins

Origin of ninepins¹

1570–80; nine + pin ( def 12 )

Example Sentences

The result was rather bad for the Turks; they went down like a lot of ninepins before Mole's railway-like progression.

From Project Gutenberg

Three Brazilians went down like ninepins; the rest turned and fled precipitately.

From Project Gutenberg

Tom Richardson, the last man in for England, made sixty-two, while some who shall be nameless went down like ninepins in the van.

From Project Gutenberg

Russian fortresses continued for another month to fall like ninepins before the Austro-German armies.

From Project Gutenberg

To quote one of our Fusiliers, "they fell like ninepins" at each discharge.

From Project Gutenberg