QUOITS, a pastime resembling the ancient discus-throwing which formed one of the five games of the Greek pentathlon (see Discus), the two main differences between the ancient and modern sports being that the quoit is ring-shaped (one surface being rounded, the other—the back—being flat) and is lighter than the discus, and its throwing is a test rather of accuracy than strength. Few traces of a game resembling quoits (O.Fr. colter, quorter, to incite) can be found on the continent of Europe, and its origin may be sought for on the borderland of Scotland and England. There are references to it in the Midlands dating from the begin ning of the 15th century, and it was one of the games prohibited in the reigns of Edward III. and Richard II. in favour of archery. According to the modern rules (1869 code modified), two iron or steel pins i8yd. apart are driven into the ground, leaving 'in. exposed. Each is situated in the centre of an "end," a circle of stiff clay 3ft. in diameter. The quoits, made of iron, may be of any weight, but are usually about 9 lb. each. They must not exceed
82in. in diameter, or be less than 31in. in the bore, or more than 21in. in the web. When delivering his quoit a player must stand within 4f t. 6in. of the centre of the end and at its side. Matches are played between teams or individuals, the object of the game being to throw the quoit as near to the pin as possible, a "ringer") i.e., a quoit actually surrounding the pin, counting two, and a quoit nearer to the pin than any of the adversary's, counting one. A match may be for any number of points, the team or player scor ing that number first being the winner. In championship matches all quoits farther than i8in. from the end, are foul and removed. All measurements are made from the middle of the pin to the near est edge of the quoit. If one or more quoits are lapped, the one most accessible is first measured and withdrawn. All quoits on their backs are a foul.
The championship of America is rewarded by the "Bell Medal," presented by the Grand National Curling Club of America.
(T. A. C.)