spillikin

spil·li·kin

(spĭl′ĭ-kĭn)

1. spillikins(used with a sing. verb) The game of jackstraws.

2. One of the straws used in playing jackstraws.

[Probably alteration of Flemish spelleken, diminutive of spelle, pin, from Middle Flemish, ultimately from Medieval Latin spīnula, diminutive of Latin spīna, thorn.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spillikin

(ˈspɪlɪkɪn) or

spilikin

;

spellican

(ˈspɛlɪkən)

(Games, other than specified) a thin strip of wood, cardboard, or plastic, esp one used in spillikins

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spil•li•kin

or spil•i•kin

(ˈspɪl ɪ kɪn)

n.

1. a jackstraw.

2. spillikins, (used with a sing. v.) the game of jackstraws.

[1725–35; variant of spellican < obsolete Dutch spelleken=spelle peg, pin + -ken -kin]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

spillikin - a thin strip of wood used in playing the game of jackstraws

jackstraw

strip - thin piece of wood or metal

Translations

spillikin

(old: = spill) → Kienspan m

spillikins pl (= game) → Mikado nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

And anon, when his victim had steeled himself against this method, he could extract another five-pound note from his little hoard with the delicacy of one playing spillikins. Mr Blatherwick had been a gold-mine to him for years.

View in context

With writing from three distinct voices, 'Owdyado are collaborating with some of Cornwall's finest creatives on the show including Jon Welch (Spillikin and Cube Theate) and Brett Harvey.

Darkly comic evening of three short plays

Spillikin (A Love Story) is a touching exploration of love with a state-of-the-art robot as a cast member.