Definition of Skittle

A pool cue designed for breaking. Along with sometimes having unusual weight or balance to build maximum speed for the cue ball, some break cues have stiffer shafts and special breaking cue tips to transfer energy more efficiently to the cue ball.

The sides of a table's frame upon which the elastic cushions are mounted. May also be used interchangeably with cushion.

Same as foot spot. Chiefly British today, but also an American usage ca. World War I.

A player who was not shooting well during a match but suddenly turns it around and starts playing better and more accurately. e.g. "He was misisng everything for the first part of the match, then found a stroke to come back and win."

A rack in the form of an equilateral triangle. There are different sizes of triangles for racking different games (which use different ball sizes and numbers of balls), including the fifteen ball racks for snooker and various pool games such as eight-ball and blackball. A larger triangle is used for the twenty-one ball rack for baseball pocket billiards). The smallest triangle rack is employed in three-ball (see illustration at that article) but is not strictly necessary, as the front of a larger rack can be used, or the balls can be arranged by hand.
The object balls in triangular formation, before the break shot, after being racked. See also pyramid.

Any shot where the cue ball stops immediately after hitting an object ball. Generally requires a full hit.

Refers to a person gambling when he has no money. As in, "That jerk can't pay up, he was shooting air barrels the whole time".

The collar is the portion of the joint that is attached to the top of the forearm. This is often stainless steel, wood, ivory, or molded phenolic resin, but in any case, made out of a solid material. This portion of the cue is glued on and threaded to reinforce the pin at the end of the shaft, and to offer a stabilized shot out of its solid construction.

A pool room employee who plays with a good degree of skill.

Same as duck. Derives from an easily shot ball "hanging" in the pocket.

A shot in which the cue ball is driven to one or more rails (cushions in British English) before reaching its intended target-usually an object ball. Sometimes also known as "Kick Out" or "Skid" (British)

This is the way a ball rolls when impeded by something on the table or a blemish in the cloth, often times regular players will remember certain rolls and play to them.

A reference to the amount of English applied to the object ball from the cue ball.

To win an inning that counters a good game your opponent just won.
The inning win that counters a good game your opponent just won.

Artistic pool is a trick shot competition, inspired by the related discipline of artistic billiards.

Same as stripes, in New Zealand. Compare yellows, high, big ones; contrast unders.

Often times a protective finish is applied to a cue stick after construction. A UV polyurethane is common, and this helps to protect the cue from fading and dings.

To maneuver a ball on a shot so that it will be favorably positioned for later play into a particular pocket, even at the expense of sacrificing position or the inning to achieve that result.

A set practice routine.
In British terminology, a bank shot.

A shot that has a positive outcome for the player, although it was not what the player intended. Examples of flukes include an unexpected pot off several cushions or other balls having missed the pocket aimed for, or perhaps a lucky safety position after having missed a pot. Compare fish and slop; contrast mark (sense 3) and call. It is customary to apologise to one's opponent if one does this.

Same as centre pocket.

This is the raised portion on the side of the table; the cushions are essentially rubber bumpers covered in the table cloth.

A Baulk line is line drawn across the table 29 inches from the bottom cushion and parallel to that cushion.

When a ball is in firm contact with a cushion or another ball.