skittle.html - 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. [17th c. (also kittle-pins): orig. unkn.]

skittle.html - v.intr. (also skeeter)
1 a (usu. foll. by along, across) move lightly or hastily. b (usu. foll. by about, off) hurry about, dart off.
2 fish by drawing bait jerkily across the surface of the water. [app. frequent. of dial. skite, perh. formed as SKIT(1)]

skittle.html - adj.
skittish, restless.

skittle.html - adj.
1 lively, playful.
2 (of a horse etc.) nervous, inclined to shy, fidgety.

skittishly adv. skittishness n. [ME, perh. formed as SKIT(1)]

skittle.html - 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. [17th c. (also kittle-pins): orig. unkn.]

skittle.html - n.
(often foll. by on) a light, usu. short, piece of satire or burlesque. [rel. to skit move lightly and rapidly, perh. f. ON (cf. skj×ta SHOOT)]