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spillikin

or spil·i·kin

[ spil-i-kin ]
/ ˈspɪl ɪ kɪn /
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noun

a jackstraw.
spillikins, (used with a singular verb) the game of jackstraws.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
their
there
they're
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Origin of spillikin

1725–35; variant of spellican<obsolete Dutch spelleken, equivalent to spelle peg, pin + -ken-kin

Words nearby spillikin

spile, spiling, spill, spillage, Spillane, spillikin, spillikins, spillover, spillproof, spill the beans, spillway
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for spillikin

  • It's so very difficult to play a game with a spillikin on one side and a sledge-hammer on the other.'

    The Explorer|W. Somerset Maugham

British Dictionary definitions for spillikin

spillikin

spilikin spellican (ˈspɛlɪkən)

/ (ˈspɪlɪkɪn) /

noun

a thin strip of wood, cardboard, or plastic, esp one used in spillikins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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