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If you're stuck on a crossword clue along the lines of "bowling alley, highway or swimming pool feature," the answer is LANE, or LANES if the clue is plural. All three places are divided into lanes: lanes you bowl down, lanes you drive in and lanes you swim in.
Why LANE fits
- Bowling alley: each strip you bowl on is a lane, 60 feet from the foul line to the head pin. The lane length guide has the exact measurements.
- Highway: traffic lanes, fast lanes, HOV lanes.
- Swimming pool: lap lanes separated by lane ropes; an Olympic pool has eight or ten lanes.
Variants of the clue include "Pool or bowling alley division," "Swimmer's assignment" and "Bowling venue unit," and the answer is the same.
Other bowling words that show up in crosswords
| Clue (typical wording) | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ten-pin knockdown on the first ball | STRIKE |
| Bowling score that's not a strike | SPARE |
| Three strikes in a row | TURKEY |
| Bowling channel | GUTTER |
| 7-10, for one | SPLIT |
| Perfect game score | THREE HUNDRED / 300 |
| One of ten in bowling | PIN or FRAME |
| Bowling alley button or spot | ARROW / DOT |
| Bowling org. | PBA / USBC / ABC |
Another common one, "Last word in many bowling alley names," is also LANES. See why so many bowling centers are called "Lanes".
Want the real definitions?
If a crossword sent you down a bowling rabbit hole, the A to Z of bowling terms explains the words above and plenty more.