skittles

pl. [ Dan.skyttel; Sw.dial.skyttel, skottel a shuttle; Icel. skutile, from root of skjóla = to shoot (q. v.).] A game in which nine wooden pins are set up on a frame at the end of a short court or alley, the object of the players being to knock over all the pins in as few throws as po ible with the skittle-ball (q. v.).