† skayles Obs.
In 6 skailes, 6–7 skayles, scailes, skales, 7 scales.
[app. a variant of kayles, but the origin of the s- is not clear; cf. kittle-pins and skittles.]
A form of the game of skittles or ninepins; also, one of the pins with which this game is played.
| α a 1566 W. Wager Longer thou livest 781 You taught me first to play at blow pointe,..At skayles, and the playing with a sheepes ioynte. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1895) II. 91 He played at skayles in the middest of the streete. 1598 Florio, Sbrigli, a play called ninepins or keeles or skailes. 1628 Maldon Docs. (Bdle. 199 No. 4), Playinge at..skayles, bowles, or anie other unlawfull games. 1647 Peacham Worth of a Penny 31 The most ordinary recreations of the Countrey are foot-ball, skales, or nine pins. |
| β 1579 Rice Invective agst. Vices D ij b, Tennis balles or bowles, horse bones for scailes, nor kniues for muggle pricke. 1600 Nashe Summers Last Will Wks. (Grosart) VI. 105 It is against my profession to vse any scales, but such as we play at with a boule. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 257 To them that doubt of Wine, of chesse, scailes, and of Tables, thou shalt say that such sports and such drinkes are a great sinne. |
Hence
† ˈskayler;
ˈskayling;
skayle-pins.
| 1579 Rice Invective agst. Vices C iv, Giuen to Bowlyng,..Tennis plaiyng, scailyng, and such like. Ibid. F j, Dicers, Bowlers, Carders, Scailers, Crossers and Pillers. 1656 New Almanack 8 That antient Olympick game called scale pins, in memorie of nine of those gallant lads. |