Where did the word bonspiel come from?

Bonspiel is a word for a curling match, and derives from the Dutch term spiel, meaning “game.” This is part of a complete episode.

What does bonspiel mean in curling?

a match or tournament
: a match or tournament between curling clubs.

What sports lingo uses the term Bonspiel?

A bonspiel is a curling tournament, consisting of several games, often held on a weekend.

What does Brier mean in curling?

The Tim Hortons Brier, or simply (and more commonly) the Brier (French: Le Brier), is the annual Canadian men’s curling championship, sanctioned by Curling Canada. The current event name refers to its main sponsor, the Tim Hortons coffee and donut shop chain.

Where was curling invented?

Scotland
The first Rules were drawn up in Scotland, and they were formally adopted as the “Rules in Curling” by the Grand Caledonian Curling Club, which was formed in Edinburgh in 1838 and became the sport’s governing body.

Why do they call it the hog line in curling?

The “hog line” gets its name from an old Scottish slang term for a weak lamb, which was likely to be culled from the flock. Likewise, a “hogged stone” is one that doesn’t reach the far hog line and must be removed from play.

Why is last rock in curling called the hammer?

By knocking all stones out the opponents could at best score one point, if they had the last stone of the end (called the hammer). If the team peeling the rocks had the hammer they could peel rock after rock which would blank the end (leave the end scoreless), keeping the last rock advantage for another end.

What was the Brier called before?

“It was a pipe tobacco that they sold. . . . And, so, they attached the name of that product to the newly formed [tournament], what was the Canadian curling championship is what they called it. It became the Brier.”

What does a Purple Heart mean in curling?

A purple, heart-shaped crest has adorned the jacket of every provincial and territorial men’s curling champion since the first Brier in 1927. Earning a Purple Heart is like gaining entry into a secret society for male curlers.

What stone is a curling stone made of?

granite
The curling stone, or rock, is made of dense polished granite from Ailsa Craig, Scotland, and in the Olympics, each rock weighs 19.1 kg (44 lbs).

Why are British curlers Scottish?

Curling was played by Scottish emigrants living in the colder climates of the world and the game was particularly strong in Canada where today the Royal Montreal Curling Club (founded in 1807) can claim to be the oldest sports club in North America.

Who invented curling and why?

The origin of curling traces back to 16th century Scotland, where the sport was played on frozen ponds and lochs. The first recorded match took place around 1541: a Scottish notary recorded a challenge between a monk at Paisley Abbey and a relative of the abbott.