quoit

[ kwoit, koit ]

noun

1. quoits, (used with a singular verb) a game in which rings of rope or flattened metal are thrown at an upright peg, the object being to encircle it or come as close to it as possible.
2. a ring used in the game of quoits.

verb (used with object)

1. to throw as or like a quoit.

verb (used without object)

1. to play quoits.

quoit

/ kɔɪt /

noun

1. a ring of iron, plastic, rope, etc, used in the game of quoits
2. slang.
   a variant spelling of coit

Other Words From

• quoiter noun
• quoitlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quoit¹

1350–1400; Middle English coyte < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of quoit¹

C15: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

“Let’s see...earlier I was eating ice cream. Right now I’m tossing this quoit ring.”

From Literature

In the 14th century, quoits, a game in which a metal disc is aimed at a wooden peg was considered so diverting that King Richard II banned the general public from playing it.

From New York Times

They used to play quoits in the road with four big steel washers they’d found in a hardware store but these were gone with everything else.

From Literature

The Harvard psychologist Jerome Frank asked people to play a game of quoits—you throw rings onto a stick, as in an amusement-park test of skill.

From The New Yorker

There were games of deck quoits and bridge.

From BBC

Related Words

• disc
• plate
• platter