Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
skittle ball

skittle ball

6.9
A ball rolled in the game of skittles to knock down pins
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : bola de bolos
  • In the village pub, we played a friendly game of skittle ball on a rainy afternoon.

Examples

  • The children enjoyed practicing their throws with the colorful skittle ball during recess.

  • At the family gathering, we set up a game of skittle ball on the lawn to entertain everyone.

  • For example, simplified territory games include "skittle ball" and "line ball" in which teams pass and catch a large Nerf ball in "basketball fashion" with the intention of hitting a cone placed at either end of the playing area (the goal) or passing to a teammate situated on the end line of the playing area (the end zone).

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

ninepin ball
vsskittle ball
  • UK
7.2

A ball used to knock down pins in the game of ninepins

is used in a different pin game to knock down nine targets

How Heavy

cannonball
35 4.6
bowling ball
22 1.8
skittle ball
  • UK
6.9

Surface Forms

skittle ball singular
skittle balls plural

Morphology

skittle + ball

This is a straightforward noun–noun composition where the modifier 'skittle' (a small wooden target) specifies the purpose or association of the 'ball', so the meaning 'a ball used in the game of skittles' is directly inferable from the constituents. The pattern (sport/device + ball) is a common, transparent compositional strategy in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Skittle ball comes from the old pub game of skittles. Players rolled a heavy ball to knock over small wooden pins called skittles, so the name means 'a ball used to knock down ninepins'.