What does "skittle" mean?
One of the wooden targets used in skittles.
Skittle
/ˈskɪtəl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One of the wooden targets used in skittles.
- Grammar: skittle is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bowling pin, candy, careen, clitoris.
- Useful contrasts: ball, crawl, savory.
- Usage evidence: He only managed to bowl down one skittle out of nine.
How to use "skittle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "skittle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "skittle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "skittle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "skittle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "skittle" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bowling pin" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "skittle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One of the wooden targets used in skittles.
"By the afternoon it seemed as if the storm had passed and that frost was setting in; but in the evening the wind rose to gale force, bringing telegraph poles down like skittles and tangling power and telephone lines."
- 2 a bowling pin of the type used in playing ninepins or (in England) skittles wordnet
Verb
- 1 To play skittles. intransitive
- 2 play skittles wordnet
- 3 (with down) To squander one's money. transitive
- 4 (sometimes with out) To rapidly bowl out a succession of batsmen. transitive
- 5 (sometimes with out) To rapidly bowl out a succession of batsmen.; To defeat easily. figuratively, transitive
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To knock down (skittles). transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"He only managed to bowl down one skittle out of nine."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "skittle"?
Common synonyms include: bowling pin, candy, careen, clitoris, confection, fruit candy.
How do you use "skittle" in a sentence?
He only managed to bowl down one skittle out of nine.
How do you pronounce "skittle"?
Pronounced /ˈskɪtəl/.
Etymology
Origin unknown. Perhaps of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse skutill (“bolt, harpoon”), related to skjóta (“to shoot”), but the OED dismisses this connection as conjecture. The Old Norse word is related to Swedish and Danish skyttel (“shuttle, child's toy”). Compare also Old English sċytel (“a dart, bolt”). More at shuttle.