crokinole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “crokinole” mean?
A board game played by flicking discs with fingers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A board game played by flicking discs with fingers.
A dexterity-based tabletop game where players take turns flicking wooden discs across a circular board to score points by landing them in higher-scoring zones, while also knocking opponents' discs off the board.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is virtually unknown in British English and has no established British variant. In North America, it is primarily known in Canada and parts of the northern US.
Connotations
In Canada, it connotes heritage, family, and rural pastimes. Elsewhere, it is an obscure novelty game.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British contexts. Low but culturally specific frequency in Canadian English.
Grammar
How to Use “crokinole” in a Sentence
[Someone] plays crokinole.[Someone] flicked a disc in crokinole.We had a crokinole championship.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crokinole” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard. Non-standard use: 'He tried to crokinole his disc into the 20 hole.'
adverb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard.
adjective
British English
- None standard.
American English
- The crokinole board was handmade.
- They're part of a crokinole league.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, potentially in context of game manufacturing, board game cafes, or tourism promoting Canadian culture.
Academic
Rare, potentially in historical, sociological, or game design studies focusing on folk games.
Everyday
Used among families, in game nights, or in communities where the game is a tradition, especially in rural Canada.
Technical
Used in board game design/hobbyist communities to describe mechanics of flicking and displacement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crokinole”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crokinole”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crokinole”
- Pronouncing it as 'cro-kin-ol-ee' or 'cro-kin-ohl'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'Let's crokinole!' is non-standard).
- Confusing it with 'croquet' or 'cribbage'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While it originated in and is most popular in Canada, particularly in Ontario, enthusiasts and clubs exist in other countries, notably the United States and Germany.
The central hole, often worth 20 points, is the highest scoring zone. Discs must be flicked precisely to land in it.
Yes, crokinole can be played by two, three, or four players, either individually or in teams of two.
Yes, its origins trace back to the late 19th century in Canada, making it a traditional game with over a century of history.
A board game played by flicking discs with fingers.
Crokinole is usually informal in register.
Crokinole: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrəʊkɪnəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkroʊkɪnoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROW (cro-) flicking a KINdle (kinole) across a board to start a fire. The crow is playing a flicking game: cro-kin-ole.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BATTLE (discs are soldiers/ projectiles to be flicked into position while defending territory/knocking out opponents).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary action used to play Crokinole?