skittles n.

game played with nine pins, a ball, and an alley, 1630s, plural of skittle, the word for the pins used in the game, which probably is from a Scandinavian source (compare Danish and Norwegian skyttel "shuttle, child's toy"). But OED says there is no evidence of a connection. Related: Skittle-ball; skittle-alley. Beer and skittles "unmixed enjoyment" is by 1837 (with porter in place of beer).