skittle
Americannoun
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(used with a singular verb) skittles, ninepins in which a wooden ball or disk is used to knock down the pins.
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one of the pins used in this game.
noun
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a wooden or plastic pin, typically widest just above the base
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Also called (esp US): ninepins. (plural; functioning as singular) a bowling game in which players knock over as many skittles as possible by rolling a wooden ball at them
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informal (often used with a negative) an easy time; amusement
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of skittle
1625–35; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse skutill shuttle, arrow; Danish skyttel shuttle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Ayub hit 56 off 37 balls at the top of the order and Azam added an unbeaten 50 as Pakistan posted 207-6 before spinner Nawaz's career-best 5-18 helped skittle Australia for 96 in Lahore.
From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026
Opener Shan Masood orchestrated Multan’s healthy total of 183-5 with 73 off 42 balls before leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s haul of 3-7 helped skittle out Quetta for 73 in 12.1 overs.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 16, 2021
At the time, it housed a skittle alley, an ancient version of bowling.
From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2020
The club used in the club throw event is the shape of a skittle.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2016
Bedad, ma'am, she's hurt behind now; for Larry bouled her over like a skittle.
From John Bull's Other Island by Shaw, Bernard
"If it had been skittles or something else, I would have said no."
From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2024
Trayon was walking through a neighborhood with skittles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2021
Upgrade their water bottle to this sleek design that’s inspired by retro 10 pin bowling skittles and functions as a portable work of art.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2019
Another variant is Northamptonshire skittles, in which players throw "cheeses" at the skittles and bounce them off the table's cushions.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2017
John Tookey showed off this new New York craze called break dancing but went spinning out of control into a group of girls, who toppled like skittles.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
