Bowling lingo can be hard to keep track of. This is not surprising, given how long the sport has had to establish itself in popular culture.
How long has bowling been around? Well, experts claim that the sport dates back to 3200 BC. There are Egyptian hieroglyphs that depict a game very similar to modern bowling. Some ancient tombs also contain what seem to be bowling pins.
Over the years, bowling aficionados coined many unique terms related to the sport. For example, have you ever wondered, “What does a turkey mean in bowling?” If so, you’ve come to the right place – this article will teach you everything you need to know!
Ever wondered why bowling three strikes in a row is called a “turkey”? It’s not as random as it might seem. This peculiar term has a rich history rooted in the early days of bowling, intertwined with Thanksgiving traditions and a dash of prize-giving.
The Origins of the “Turkey”
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, bowling wasn’t the smooth, predictable game it is today. Lanes were rough, pins were hand-set, and often weighted making strikes a rare feat. To celebrate exceptional skill tournaments awarded prizes – not trophies or certificates, but delicious food baskets, including the coveted turkey.
Imagine the thrill of winning a live turkey during the Thanksgiving season! This prize became so closely associated with three consecutive strikes that the term “turkey” stuck, even long after actual turkeys were replaced with other rewards.
Beyond the Turkey: A Lexicon of Bowling Achievements
While “turkey” is the most recognizable term, it’s just one in a colorful vocabulary of bowling lingo. Here’s a glimpse into the world of multi-strike names:
- Double: Two strikes in a row. Simple and straightforward.
- Hambone: Four strikes in a row, named after sports commentator Rob Stone.
- Brat: Five strikes in a row, just like the number of sausages in a pack.
- Wild Turkey/6-Pack: Six strikes in a row, because six is a wild number, right?
- Ham-Turkey Dinner: Seven strikes in a row, combining the “hambone” and “turkey” achievements.
- Octopus: Eight strikes in a row, because eight pins look like tentacles, maybe?
- Golden Turkey: Nine strikes in a row, a rare feat worthy of a golden bird.
- Dinosaur: The mythical 12-strike perfect game, as rare as a dinosaur sighting.
Bowl a Turkey and Gobble It Up This Thanksgiving
So, the next time you hear someone call out “turkey” on the lanes, remember the history behind it. It’s a testament to the evolution of bowling, the changing nature of prizes, and the enduring legacy of Thanksgiving traditions.
And who knows, maybe you’ll even bowl a turkey yourself this Thanksgiving! Just remember to bring your appetite – you might just win a real one.
The Sport of Turkey Bowling
The term “turkey” goes beyond a simple bowling achievement. For example, did you know that there’s an actual sport called turkey bowling?.
As the name implies, the sport is a lot like ordinary bowling. Key differences include using a frozen turkey as the ball and plastic bottles as the pins. The contestants bowl the turkey down a smooth surface, such as ice or soap-covered plastic.
The sport itself is a recent invention. In 1988, businessman Derrick Johnson came up with the rules while he was working as a grocery clerk. The idea came to him as he observed his manager slide a frozen turkey to topple a soda bottle by accident.
Turkey bowling is often associated with Thanksgiving. It’s particularly popular in Canada and the United States.
The Origins of the Term
The phrase “bowling a turkey” has its roots in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Back then, bowling tournaments were popular with everyone, from the aristocracy to the working class. The most common prize at these tournaments was a basket of food. The basket often included coveted items, such as a large ham.
At some point, turkeys took over as the main tournament prize. Nobody is quite sure when or why this happened. Still, it’s believed that this practice came to life around Thanksgiving.
Now, back in the day, prizes revolved around getting strikes. As you might expect, hitting three strikes in a row came to be known as “bowling a turkey.” Anyone who managed this feat would get a turkey as a reward.
Soon enough, this practice spread to the point of becoming a part of the bowling vernacular. While turkeys are no longer awarded as prizes in tournaments, a three-strike game in bowling is still considered a turkey.
Other than giving away turkeys, tournament organizers also had other prizes. These included gifts for bowling four, six, or nine consecutive strikes.
“How could they have afforded it?” you might wonder. In our opinion, getting three strikes is a simple way to win a whole turkey. Even complete amateurs can do it on occasion, and professionals do it on the regular.
The secret lies in the fact that bowling a turkey was much more difficult back then. Unlike our refined and pristine lanes, old-school lanes were uneven and rough. Players also had to place their pins by hand, so they weren’t perfectly spaced.
The bowling balls weren’t as balanced either, so consistency was harder to achieve. To top it all off, many tournament officials weighted the pins’ bottoms. This made them much heavier and harder to knock over.
These days, a turkey is the most popular part of the bowling lingo. That said, there are many other common terms you might have heard of. Here are some examples:
• Hambone: four strikes in a row
• Wild turkey: six strikes in a row
• Golden turkey: nine strikes in a row
Don’t feel like keeping track of these terms? If so, call them “baggers. ” Four strikes in a row is a four-bagger, five strikes is a five-bagger, and so on.
The one other common bowling term you should remember is “dinosaur. ” We use this phrase for a perfect bowling game, i. e. all strikes from start to finish. The idea behind the term was that a perfect game was as non-existent as a dinosaur.
Of course, this is another term that didn’t age all that well. The dinosaur is very achievable these days, especially in high-prestige events. In 1953, pro bowler Grazio Castellano bowled the first dinosaur on live television.
Why is Three Strikes in a Row in Bowling Called a Turkey?
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