duckpin
DUK-pin
/ˈdʌkpɪn/
A regional variation of bowling using smaller, squatter pins and lightweight balls without finger holes.
Duckpin bowling is much more difficult than standard tenpin bowling; players are allowed three rolls per frame instead of two.
The story behind the word. Duckpin bowling was popularized in Baltimore, Maryland, around 1900. Legend has it that baseball Hall of Famers John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson, who owned a bowling alley, designed the smaller pins. When struck by the small ball, the pins scattered wildly, resembling a flock of flying ducks, prompting McGraw to exclaim that they looked like 'duckpins'.
Word relationships
- tenpin: Tenpin bowling uses larger, heavier pins and balls with finger holes, and is the standard global version of the sport.
Commonly confused with
- candlepin: Candlepin bowling uses tall, thin, cylindrical pins, while duckpin uses short, squat pins.
Word family
- duckpins (noun): plural form of duckpin
Collocations
- duckpin bowling
- duckpin lane
- duckpin ball
Example sentences
- "Duckpin bowling remains a beloved tradition in Maryland, where the small, stubborn pins have frustrated players for over a century." Exploring regional sports history
Memory hook
Small pins that fly around like scattering wild 'ducks'. Small pins, big challenge.
When not to use
Do not use 'duckpin' when referring to standard tenpin bowling or candlepin bowling, which uses tall, cylindrical pins.
Fun facts
- Because duckpin bowling is so difficult, no player has ever thrown a certified perfect 300 game in the history of the sport. The highest sanctioned score ever recorded is 279.
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