the art of playing at bowls.—This game is practised either in open places, as bares and bowling-greens, or in close bowling-alleys.

The skill of bowling depends much on a knowledge of the ground, and the right choice of a bowl suitable to it: for close alleys, the flat bowl; for green swards plain and level, the bowl as round as a ball is preferred.

The terms used in bowling are, to bowl wide, which is when the bias does not hold, or is not strong enough; narrow, when it is too strong, or holds too much; finely bowled, when the ground is well chosen, and the bowl passes near the block, even though it goes much beyond it; bowling through, or a yard over, is done in order to move the block; an over bowl, that which goes beyond it; a bowl laid at hand, is that put down within the gambler's reach, to be in the way of the next bowler, and hinder his having the advantage of the best ground; bowling at length, neither bowling through nor short; a dead length, a just or exact one; throwing or flinging, is discharging a bowl with a strength purposely too great for a length, in order to carry off either the block or some near bowl; bowl-room, or milking-room, is when a bowl has free passage, without striking on any other; get off, is when a bowl being narrow, is wanted to be wider; bowl beat at block, that nearest the block; drawing a cast or bowl, is to win it by bowling nearer, without flinging either the bowl or block; a bowl is said to rub, when it meets with some obstacle in the ground, which retards its motion, and weakens its force; it is gone, when far beyond the block. Block signifies a little bowl laid for a mark, also called a jack. Mark, is a proper bowling distance, not under so many yards; and being at least a yard and a half from the edge of the green. Ground, a bag or handkerchief laid down to mark where a bowl is to go. Lead, the advantage of throwing the block, and bowling first. Cast, is one best bowl at an end. End, a hit, or when all the bowls are out. The game, or up, is five casts or best bowls.