skittle
[skit-l]
- skittles, (used with a singular verb) ninepins in which a wooden ball or disk is used to knock down the pins.
- one of the pins used in this game.
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Origin of skittle
1625–35; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse skutill shuttle, arrow; Danish skyttel shuttle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for skittles
Contemporary Examples
When a deal is about to close at work, is there always a bag of Skittles within reach?
And when I passed the refreshment stand on the way out of the theater, I could not help but think of Skittles.
Martin had just taken a trip to a convenience store for a bag of Skittles candy and a can of drink.
In the evening, he left to walk less than a mile to the 7-Eleven to get a can of soda and a bag of Skittles for Chad.
Skittles fly up behind him, a reminder of the reason Martin went to the store that night.
Historical Examples
You'll find none of the 'beer and skittles' of the country up here.
Captain Desmond, V.C.Maud Diver
"They received me and my news as one receives a dog in a game of skittles," said he in conclusion.
War and PeaceLeo Tolstoy
Bless me, everything's beer and skittles with you just at present then!
The History of Sir Richard CalmadyLucas Malet
The children as good as usual, and even Skittles jolly to the last.
The broken peg skittles dealt with above will do admirably for this (Fig. 34).
Toy-Making at HomeMorley Adams
skittle
- a wooden or plastic pin, typically widest just above the base
- 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
- beer and skittles (often used with a negative) informal an easy time; amusement
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Word Origin
C17: of obscure origin; perhaps related to Swedish, Danish skyttel shuttle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for skittles
n.
game played with nine pins, 1630s, plural of skittle, the word for the pins used in the game, probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Danish and Norwegian skyttel "shuttle, child's toy"). But OED says there is no evidence of a connection.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper