pin

The term "pin" in the context of bowling refers to the pins that are set up at the end of the lane and are knocked down by a ball. The most common form of bowling uses ten pins arranged in a triangular formation, but variations exist.

• Candlepins are a variation played with slender, cylindrical pins that are 15 inches tall. Three balls are bowled per frame, and pins knocked down are not removed until the frame is complete.1
• Duckpins use smaller pins, 9.4 inches tall, and a ball with no finger holes. Three balls are allowed per frame in this 10-frame game.2
• The headpin is the foremost pin in the arrangement. "Headpin bowling" is a strategy where a bowler aims directly at the headpin and the pins next to it (the 1-3 pocket) when trying to achieve a strike.34

The origins of bowling can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it was practiced as a religious test.5