/ ˈskɪtl; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] (in Britain) a wooden or plastic object used in the game of skittles
2.
skittles [ U ] (in Britain) a game in which players roll a ball at nine skittles and try to knock over as many of them as possible
—compare tenpin bowling
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin. The word skyttel exists in Danish and Swedish in the sense shuttle, child's marble , but there is no evidence to connect this with the game of skittles.