channel
The depressed area on the left and right side of the lane. When the ball falls into this area it proceeds the rest of the way down the lane and a zero is marked on the score card.

cheesecakes
Bowling lanes that strikes are easily obtained on.

cherry
knocking out the front pin of a spare leave but leaving behind the remaining pins that were either behind or to either side.

chop
Interchangeable with cherry.

clothesline
1-2-4-7 or 1-3-6-10 spare leave.

count
The number of pins that are knocked down on the first ball of each frame.

cranker
A type of bowling style where the bowler applies a lot of power to the armswing.

cross
Getting a strike on the opposite side of the bowling arm. Interchangeable with brooklyn strike.

curve
A releasing the bowling ball in such a way that the bowl travels in a huge arc.