n. & v.
--n.
1. a pin used in the game of skittles.
2 (in pl.; usu. treated as sing.) a a game like ninepins played with usu. nine wooden pins set up at the end of an alley to be bowled down usu. with wooden balls or a wooden disc. b (in full table skittles) a game played with similar pins set up on a board to be knocked down by swinging a suspended ball. c colloq. chess not played seriously.
--v.tr. (often foll. by out) Cricket get (batsmen) out in rapid succession.
Etymology: 17th c. (also kittle-pins): orig. unkn.