Ninepins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A bowling game in which a ball is rolled at a set of nine pins arranged in a diamond shape
2. A traditional skittles-style game where players knock down a diamond formation of nine pins with a ball
3. The lawn or alley game of bowling at nine upright pins, aiming to topple as many as possible in each throw

Etymology: "Ninepins" is the plural of "ninepin," a compound of "nine" and "pin." The game it names is played by setting up nine wooden pins in a diamond formation and knocking them down with a ball, which is why the word simply describes the equipment: the nine pins themselves. The compound is transparent, but the game's form has a notable link to the word's history. The nine-pin arrangement is the older pattern, and the ten-pin layout that dominates bowling today developed later. Knowing that the older game used nine pins explains why the word has nine built into it, even though many modern alleys no longer use that count.

Synonyms: skittles, tenpins