kegler

noun

keg·​ler ˈke-glər How to pronounce kegler (audio) ˈkā- How to pronounce kegler (audio)

Did you know?

Some historians trace the game of bowling back to the Stone Age (that information may conjure up images of Fred Flintstone on the lanes), but it was a medieval version of the game that gave us the word kegler. In medieval Germany, the game was practiced as a test of religious faith and purity. The "Kegel" (bowling pin) represented a heathen, and those who could topple it with a round stone proved that they were free of sin. "Kegel" gave English the nouns "kegling" (meaning "bowling") and "kegler," by way of the German verb kegeln ("to bowl"). Nowadays, both words tend to be used humorously by writers referring to the modern game.

Examples of kegler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But there’s one mom-and-pop San Antonio institution, the 44-lane Astro Superbowl, opened in 1960 and catering to a crowd that includes almost 1,000 league keglers a week. Bruce Selcraig, ExpressNews.com, 25 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

German, from kegeln to bowl, from Kegel bowling pin, from Old High German kegil stake, peg

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kegler was in 1932

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Dictionary Entries Near kegler

Cite this Entry

“Kegler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kegler. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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