Candlepin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of bowling where players knock down slender pins with a small ball, characterized by its unique pin shape and the scoring method used
2. This variant of ten-pin bowling features tall, narrow pins that remain standing after a roll, making for a distinct gameplay experience
3. In this form of bowling, competitors aim to knock down lightweight, cylindrical pins using a smaller ball, emphasizing accuracy and skill in scoring

Etymology: Candlepin bowling gets its name from its pins, which are tall, slender, and shaped like the candles they resemble. The sport's pins are narrower and taller than the ones used in ten-pin bowling, so the name is a plain description: "candle" for the thin, upright body and "pin" for the object being knocked down. Candlepin is a noun formed by compounding these two ordinary English words, with no borrowing from another language involved. The surprising detail lies in the pairing itself. A candle is an object that burns down, while the pin is a object meant to be struck and toppled, so the compound joins a light source with a target for a ball. The image comes entirely from the pin's silhouette, not from any link to lighting or fire.

Synonyms: bowling pin, pin