Tenpins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of game played by rolling a ball to knock down a set of cylindrical pins arranged in a triangular formation
2. A sport where players aim to knock down all the pins with the least number of rolls
3. A configuration consisting of ten pins used in bowling, which players attempt to toppling for scoring points

Etymology: The term "tenpins" originates from the sport of bowling, specifically the version known as ten-pin bowling. This game involves rolling a heavy ball down a polished lane to knock over ten pins arranged in a triangular formation. The phrase itself is a straightforward compound of "ten," indicating the number of pins, and "pins," referring to the slender, upright objects players aim to topple. Bowling as a pastime dates back thousands of years, with various forms played in ancient Egypt and Europe. However, the standardized modern version with ten pins solidified in the United States in the 19th century. The term "tenpins" likely came into common English usage around this time to distinguish it from other forms of bowling, such as nine-pin bowling, which used fewer pins and had different rules. The word "pin" in this context has older roots in English, derived from Old English "pinn," meaning a small, slender piece of wood or metal used for fastening or support. This sense naturally extended to the bowling pins, which are similarly shaped objects fixed in place at the end of the lane. Interestingly, while "tenpins" refers specifically to the pins themselves, it has also become a colloquial shorthand for the entire game of ten-pin bowling. Phrases like "going to the tenpins" are common in some English-speaking regions, showing how the object central to the sport also lends its name to the activity as a whole.

Synonyms: pins