Darts is a popular game played by throwing small pointed objects at a circular board. The spelling of the word is /dɑːts/. The first sound, /d/, is voiced while the second sound, /ɑː/, makes the "ah" sound commonly heard in words like "father." The last sound, /ts/, is a combination of the "t" and "s" sounds, which creates a sharp, hissing noise. The spelling of darts follows the typical English pronunciation rules, making it a straightforward word to spell.
Darts is a competitive game that involves throwing small, pointed missiles called darts at a target board known as a dartboard. The aim of the game is to score points by hitting specific areas on the board. The dartboard typically contains a series of numbered sections with different point values assigned to each section.
Darts is commonly played in pubs, clubs, and homes, and it requires precision, accuracy, and skill. The player stands at a designated throwing line, usually referred to as the oche, and throws the darts one at a time, aiming at the target. The darts themselves consist of a metal tip attached to a slim, elongated cylindrical body with fins at the back for stability during flight.
The numbered sections on the dartboard are divided into different regions, usually colored differently, with narrower sections offering higher point values. The most commonly played version of darts is the 501 game, where each player starts with a score of 501 and the objective is to reduce the score to zero by hitting specific numbered sections on the board.
Darts is often seen as a social game that encourages friendly competition, camaraderie, and strategic thinking. It requires a combination of hand-eye coordination, concentration, and mental calculations to consistently hit the desired targets. Professional darts tournaments are held worldwide, showcasing skilled players who compete for substantial prizes and prestige.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "darts" can be traced back to Old English, where it was referred to as "daroth" or "darotha". It also has connections to Middle Low German "darten", Middle Dutch "derden", and Old High German "tart", which all mean "dart" or "spear". These words are believed to have Indo-European origins and are related to the Proto-Germanic word "darothuz". This ancient term ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *dher- meaning "to throw" or "to thrust". Over time, the word "daroth" evolved into "darts" in English, specifically referring to the game in which small missiles are thrown at a target.