duckpin \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\noun Etymology: so called from its short squat appearance 1.: a small bowling pin shorter than a tenpin but proportionately wider at mid-diameter 2.duckpinsplural but singular in construction: a bowling game using duckpins and differing from tenpins in that a smaller ball is used and three balls per frame are bowled