sb. pl. Now only dial. [The relation of this to SKITTLE has not been determined.] Skittles, nine-pins.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., clxiii. Quoyts, and Kettle-pins.
1649. Sadler, Rights Kingd., 43. When shall our kittle-pins return again into the Grecian skyttals.
1679. Trial of Langhorn, 32. I saw him in the Garden with a Lay-Brother at Kittle-pins in the view of all the Colledge.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., III. vii. (1810), 239. Loggatts … is the same which is now called kittle-pins, in which the boys often make use of bones instead of wooden pins.
1886. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Kittle-pins, skittles—applied to the pins and not to the game.
So Kittles sb. pl., skittles.
1697. View of Penal Laws, 329. If any person … shall by any Fraud … at … Kittles … Win Money.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 162. We merrily Play At Trap, and Kettles.
