■ noun
1》 ( ~s ) [treated as sing. ] a game played with wooden pins, typically nine in number, set up at the end of an alley to be bowled down with a wooden ball or disc.
↘(also table ~s ) a game played with similar pins set up on a board to be knocked down by swinging a suspended ball.
2》 a pin used in the game of ~s.
3》 ( ~s ) [treated as sing. ] Brit. informal chess that is not played seriously.
■ verb knock over as if in a game of ~s.
↘ Cricket get (batsmen) out in rapid succession.
Origin
C17: of unknown origin.