ninepins
/ˈnʌɪnpɪnʒ
/plural noun [usually treated as singular]
1The traditional form of the game of skittles, using nine pins and played in an alley.The transformation of ninepins to the tenpin game happened in North America, where the original game had also been introduced by the Dutch....
- Not much has changed since Connecticut banned ninepins in 1841.
- I doubt we'll get any rain out of it, but I like to listen to Rip Van Winkle and the boys playing ninepins all the same.
1.1 [treated as plural] Skittles used in the game of ninepins.The series has its fans for one reason: scattering hordes of goons like a bowling ball through ninepins can be gratifying; and, as your efforts control the ebb and flow of battle, there is a surprising level of tactical thought involved....
- Well, imagine some of the greatest men in France as these ninepins and then this Monsieur Caratal was the ball which could be seen coming from far away.
- Orders for games included 48 chessboards and chessmen, 12 sets of fox and geese, 6 sets of jackstraws, 9 boxes of ninepins, and 3 sets of German tactics.
Phrases
go down (or drop or fall) like ninepins