tiddlywinks

American  

[tid-lee-wingks] / ˈtɪd liˌwɪŋks /

Also tiddledywinks

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a game played on a flat surface, in which players attempt to snap small plastic disks into a cup by pressing the edges of the disks with larger ones.

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tiddlywinks British  

/ ˈtɪdlɪˌwɪŋks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a game in which players try to flick discs of plastic into a cup by pressing them sharply on the side with other larger discs

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Etymology

Origin of tiddlywinks

1835–45; plural of tiddlywink ( tiddly tiny + dial. wink, variant of winch ¹ ), referring to the counter used to snap the pieces into place; see -s ³

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tiddlywinks

Americans naturally are drawn to major events and probably would come out in droves to watch tiddlywinks or tetherball if you could convince them it was the most important tournament in the sport.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

But there is a third way: What about not losing your mind over little stage-setting tiddlywinks stuff at all?

From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2022

The game consisted of tiny sculpted heads with names like Eggy Bone and Reggae Bone that were used with rules similar to marbles or tiddlywinks.

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2022

“He can’t be second in anything, tiddlywinks or any other game we play here,” Walsh says.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 28, 2021

Soon he was wildly excited and shouting with laughter as the tiddlywinks climbed hopefully up the ladders and then came slithering down the snakes again, almost back to the starting point.

From "1984" by George Orwell

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