skittle

Etymology

Origin unknown. Perhaps of North Germanic origin (compare Old Norse skutill (“bolt, harpoon”), Danish skyttel (“shuttle, child's toy”)). Compare also Old English sċytel (“a dart, bolt”). More at shuttle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɪtəl/
• Rhymes: -ɪtəl

Noun

skittle (plural skittles)

1. One of the wooden targets used in skittles.

Verb

skittle (third-person singular simple present skittles, present participle skittling, simple past and past participle skittled)

1. (intransitive) To play skittles.
2. (transitive) To beat comprehensively.
3. (transitive) To knock down.
4. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (transitive) To use as a recreational drug a certain over-the-counter cough medication that is taken orally and whose tablets are said to resemble Skittles.

See also

• bowling

Anagrams

• Kittles, kittles