• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Home
  • Learn Baseball
    • Basic Baseball Overview
    • Baseball Terms
    • Baseball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Basketball
    • Basic Basketball Overview
    • Basketball Terms
    • Basketball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Football
    • Basic Football Overview
    • Football Terms
    • Football Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Ice Hockey
    • Basic Ice Hockey Overview
    • Ice Hockey Terms
  • Learn Soccer
    • Basic Soccer Overview
    • Soccer Terms
  • BLOG
    • Shopping Guides
    • The Locker
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NCAAB
    • NCAAF
    • College Sports
    • Soccer
    • MMA & Boxing
    • THE SCRAPS
    • GIMME!
  • More Sports Lingo
    • Learn Bowling
      • Basic Bowling Overview
      • Bowling Terms
    • Learn Golf
      • Basic Golf Overview
      • Golf Terms
    • Learn Tennis
      • Tennis Overview
      • Tennis Terms
    • Winter Olympics
      • Curling
      • Figure Skating
      • Downhill & Cross Country Skiing
      • Snowboarding
      • Bobsled
    • Archery
    • Billiards
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Cycling & Biking
    • Disc Golf
    • Dog Mushing
    • Fencing
    • Field Hockey
    • Gymnastics
    • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
    • Motorsports & Car Racing
    • Pickleball
    • Rodeo
    • Rowing
    • Rugby
    • Shooting Sports
    • Skateboarding
    • Sports Betting
    • Swimming
    • Table Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

A Place To Learn Sports. On And Off The Field.

You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘T’ / Turkey

Turkey

Learn more about what the meaning of a turkey is in bowling.

tur*key

What is the definition of turkey in bowling?

1. Turkey is a term used in bowling to describe when a bowler throws their third strike in a row.

What is a turkey in bowling terms?

In bowling lingo, three strikes in a row which have been throw by a single bowler are collectively referred to as a turkey. The three strikes must be rolled consecutively to quality as a turkey.

A turkey can occur at any point in a game as long as the strikes are bowled back to back. When three strikes are bowled consecutively in the first three frames of a game, it’s sometimes referred to as a sizzling turkey.

Can you bowl a turkey in the 10th frame?

One unique instance of a turkey occurs solely in the 10th frame. If a bowler knocks down all 10 pins on their first roll of the 10th frame, they get a strike and are permitted to throw the ball two more times in that frame. If both of their next two rolls result in strikes, they can achieve a turkey in the 10th frame.

Why is it called a turkey in bowling?

It is not known for sure how three consecutive strikes came to be known as a turkey, but many believe it began in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During that time, a common form of entertainment in the United States was bowling competitions, with the winner often receiving a food basket as their prize. The contents of those baskets often included a turkey, with some saying that live turkeys may have even been awarded as prizes for some bowling tournaments.

The idea of “bowling a turkey” likely developed from this tradition. While turkey prizes are no longer associated with the game of bowling, the term seems to have stuck around from this earlier practice.

Names for strings of strikes in bowling

After a bowler hits three strikes in a row, any strike bowled thereafter which keeps the streak going is referenced as a bagger, along with the strike number (four-bagger, five-bagger, etc.). In addition, other terms have been developed to label certain strike streaks.

What are 2 strikes in a row called?

Two strikes bowled consecutively are generally referred to as a double.

What are 4 strikes in a row called?

When four strikes are bowled consecutively, it’s known as a four-bagger. Another term for four strikes in a row is a hambone, a term first used by sports commentator Rob Stone.

Learn more about what the meaning of a turkey is in bowling.

Dave Kallmann/USA TODAY Sports

What are 5 strikes in a row called?

Five strikes in a row are called a five-bagger or a nickel, in reference to the value of the coin being five cents. In keeping with the meat theme of “turkey” for three strikes and “hambone” for four strikes, another term for five consecutive strikes is brat, a shortened version of bratwurst.

What are 6 strikes in a row called?

Terms for six strikes bowled in a row include six-bagger, six pack and sixer. Because six consecutive strikes also represent two back-to-back turkeys, they are sometimes called a wild turkey.

What are 7 strikes in a row called?

A streak of seven strikes in bowling is referred to as a seven-bagger. Another term used to describe seven strikes in a row is ham-turkey dinner, since this type of streak involves a hambone (four strikes) followed by a turkey (three strikes).

What are 8 strikes in a row called?

Eight strikes bowled consecutively are known as an eight-bagger or an octopus.

What are 9 strikes in a row called?

Nine strikes in a row are known as a nine-bagger. Because nine consecutive strikes also represent three back-to-back turkeys, they are sometimes referred to as a golden turkey.

What are 10 strikes in a row called?

When a bowler throws 10 strikes back to back, it’s called a 10-bagger.

What are 11 strikes in a row called?

Eleven strikes bowled consecutively are referred to as an 11-bagger.

What are 12 strikes in a row called?

Twelve consecutive strikes are known as a perfect game. This is the maximum number of strikes that can be thrown in one game of bowling. Players who achieve a perfect game throw one strike per frame for the first nine frames and three strikes in the 10th frame.

What are 3 spares in a row called?

When a bowler gets three spares in a row, it is sometimes referred to as a flamingo or chicken. These birds often stand on one leg, which reflects the way a spare is marked on the score sheet while also referencing the bird-related term “turkey” used for three strikes.

Front and back strings of strikes

When a bowler throws more than one strike in a row beginning in the first frame, they are described by the word “front” followed by the number of strikes. For example, five strikes in a row in frames 1 through 5 are called the “front five.”

Similarly, if a string of strikes begins after the first frame and continues through the last frame of the game, they are described as being “back” followed by the number of strikes. For example, six strikes in a row in frames 7 through 10, including a turkey in the 10th frame, are called the “back six.”

What is the highest score you can bowl?

The highest possible score in bowling is 300. The only way to have a perfect game in bowling is to throw a strike in all 10 frames, including three strikes on the final frame.

What is turkey bowling?

Turkey bowling is a sport and Thanksgiving activity that is a variation on the traditional game of 10-pin bowling. Instead of a bowling ball, participants roll a frozen turkey. In place of classic bowling pins made of wood, the pins for turkey bowling are plastic soda bottles filled with liquid.

This game isn’t typically played in a bowling alley. Originally, the bowling lane used in turkey bowling was a grocery store aisle. However, any smooth surface can be used, and various organizers have held the game on ice rinks or even sheets of plastic covered in soap.

Turkey bowling is mostly played as a Thanksgiving game on or around the holiday. It’s a family activity that can be enjoyed just for fun with all ages, or it may be organized as a competitive bowling tournament with prizes awarded to the winners.

What are three strikes in a row called in turkey bowling?

In turkey bowling, three strikes in a row are referred to as a gobbler, which is intended as a reference to the term “turkey” in bowling lingo.

Examples of how turkey is used in commentary

1. Duke steps up to the approach, looking to get his first turkey of the afternoon.

Sport the term is used

1. Bowling

Join Our Community

From The Locker

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Today marks 25 years since the untimely death of Florence Griffith Joyner. In her 38 years, she achieved some of the greatest accomplishments in … [Read More...]

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Back in the early days of professional baseball, a clean-cut look was required for players. So when the House of David baseball team rolled into town, … [Read More...]

Unscripted with SportsLingo

Shaped By Sports | Tamara Donelson Is Unscripted

Shaped By Sport

How Tamara Donelson fell in love with mountain biking in spite of herself — and why she stepped back from the sport she loved to rediscover fun on her … [Read More...]

Jim Cavale, Unscripted

The Athlete’s Entrepreneur

Jim Cavale left baseball to pursue entrepreneurship — and he’s helped thousands of student-athletes in the process Jim Cavale is competitive by … [Read More...]

Browse Our Sports Dictionary For The Latest Sports Terms & Jargon

  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | About Us | Contact Us
Copyright © 2025 · SportsLingo.com, a BrainBoost Media LLC. property.

Disclaimer: SportsLingo is an Amazon Associate and earns revenue from qualifying purchases.

In addition, SportsLingo may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from other affiliate networks.