lane
LAYN
/leɪn/
The narrow, sixty-foot-long wooden or synthetic track down which a bowling ball is rolled.
While 'lane' can refer to any narrow path (like a traffic lane), in bowling it specifically denotes the highly engineered, oiled surface extending from the foul line to the pin deck.
The story behind the word. The word 'lane' has ancient Germanic roots, originally describing a narrow passageway between hedges or buildings. In the 19th century, as indoor bowling became standardized in America, the term was naturally adopted to describe the long, narrow wooden pathways built for the game.
Word relationships
- alley: 'Alley' often refers to the entire building or facility, whereas 'lane' is the specific wooden track.
Commonly confused with
- approach: The approach is where the bowler stands and walks, while the lane is the oiled surface where the ball rolls.
Word family
- lanes (noun): plural form of lane
Collocations
- oiled lane
- lane conditions
- synthetic lane
- lane oil
Idioms & expressions
- stay in your lane
Example sentences
- "The tournament technicians applied a complex oil pattern to each lane to challenge the professional bowlers." Professional tournament preparation
Memory hook
Imagine a narrow lane of traffic that you must drive straight down without hitting the sides. Keep it in the lane.
When not to use
Do not use 'lane' to refer to the entire bowling facility; use 'alley' or 'center' instead.
Fun facts
- Standard bowling lanes are exactly 60 feet long from the foul line to the center of the headpin, a measurement established in the late 19th century.
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