Definition

Noun: 1. The front bowling pin in the triangular arrangement of ten pins: In the sport of ten-pin bowling, the headpin is the single pin positioned at the very front of the triangular formation, closest to the bowler. It is also known as the number 1 pin.

Usage

The word "headpin" is used specifically in the context of bowling to identify a particular pin by its position. It is a countable noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • A good strike often involves hitting the headpin at the perfect angle.
  • The bowler aimed directly for the headpin.
  • If you knock down the headpin but leave others standing, it's called a "headpin leave".

Advanced Usage

• "Headpin leave": A specific term in bowling scoring for when the headpin is knocked down but one or more of the remaining pins are left standing.
  • He was frustrated by another headpin leave.

Variants and Related Words

• Kingpin (noun): A synonym for "headpin" in bowling. It can also metaphorically refer to the most important person in an organization.
  • (In bowling) He hit the kingpin squarely.
• Number one pin (noun phrase): Another term for the headpin, referring to its official numbering in scoring.
  • The number one pin is the primary target.

Synonyms

• Kingpin
• Number one pin
• Front pin

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, but pins at the rear of the formation (e.g., the 7 and 10 pins) are conceptually opposite in position.

Noun

1. the front bowling pin in the triangular arrangement of ten pins