conkers

/ ˈkɒŋkəz /

noun

1. functioning as singular a game in which a player swings a horse chestnut (conker), threaded onto a string, against that of another player to try to break it

Word History and Origins

Origin of conkers¹

C19: from dialect conker snail shell, originally used in the game

Example Sentences

The event saw participants go head-to-head using conkers threaded on to string to try and smash their opponent's nut.

From BBC

Recent storms had blown hundreds of conkers out of the trees, raising concerns that they might rot before the big day.

From BBC

A mature horse chestnut, it is festooned with glorious blooms every spring, and after a few weeks sheds hundreds of partially grown, supernumerary conkers, encased in spiky green coverings.

From Seattle Times

Players, who cannot bring their own favourite conkers, draw their conkers unseen from a bag and have the right to reject up to three horse chestnuts on the basis of close inspection.

From BBC

There is a stringent set of rules, which include the conkers and laces used being provided by organisers.

From BBC