"Name an invention that existed before 1500 (no food or drinks)." was one of the seven prompts in Krillion #121 on Friday, November 13, 2026. The game accepted 6,330 different answers, and they are not worth the same: the most obvious ones score 10 points, rare ones 60, deep cuts 85, and the single featured Krillion 100.
6,330accepted answers
4,889deep cuts · 85 pts
1,259rare · 60 pts
181common · 30 or 10 pts
The Krillion
The featured answer worth 100 points was Pythagorean cup. Krillion's note: “Overfilling a Pythagorean cup siphons its entire contents out through the stem.”
How to score on this prompt
Only 181 answers were rated common — the plankton everyone thinks of first were Compass, Gunpowder, Paper, Printing press and Wheel, and the schoolers included Abacus, Alphabet, Aqueduct, Armor and Arrow. Deep cuts are 77% of accepted answers: skip the first names that come to mind and one level more specific is usually enough for 85 points.
Every accepted answer
The Krillion 1 · 100 pts each
- Pythagorean cup
Deep cuts 4,889 · 85 pts each
- 819-day count
- Ab anbar
- Ab urbe condita
- Abacus (architecture)
- Abaptista
- Abat-son
- Abatis
- Abecedary
- Abjad numerals
- Ablaq
- Abolla
- Abortifacient
- Abrader
- Abridged armilla
- Abutment
- Accolade (architecture)
- Acequia
- Acinaces
- Acoustic jar
- Acrolith
- Acrostolium
- Acroterion
- Acta Diurna
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture bronze figure
- Adarga
- Adit
- Adjustable mirror
- Adufe
- Aedicula
- Aegean numerals
- Aeolic order
- Aerotonon
- Aes grave
- Aes rude
- Aes signatum
- African red slip ware
- Afro comb
- Agadir
- Agateware
- Agger
- Agnel (coin)
- Agnus Dei (wax)
- Agricultural roller
- Aguayo
- Ahar-pyne
- Ahlspiess
- Ahom script
- Ahu
- Ailette
- Airtight food storage
- Aisled house
- Ajaeng
- Akatos
- Akçe
- Aklys
- Aksu
- Aksumite currency
- Ala bohemica
- Alabastron
- Alaia board
- Alapini vina
- Alb
- Albarello
- Albarrana tower
- Alberti cipher
- Albion
- Alboka
- Album (Ancient Rome)
- Albus
- Alcoholic fermentation
- Alea evangelii
- Alemannic minuscule
- Alembic
- Aleppo soap
- Alfarje
- Alfiz
- Alia
- Alidade
- Aljamiado
- Alkaline glaze
- Alligator drum
- Almadraba
- Almond milk production
- Alms box
- Almucantar quadrant
- Alphabetum Kaldeorum
- Alquerque
- Alta
- Altar cloth
- Altar stone
- Alternating fields system
- Aludel
- Alum
- Amadou
- Amalaka
- Amalgam
- Amalgamation
- Amate
- Ambo
- Ambulacrum
- Ambulatory
- Amentum
- Amice
- Ampechone
- Ampulla
- Ampyx
- Anagama kiln
- Analemma
- Anaphoric clock
- Anasazi flute
- Anathyrosis
- Anatolian hieroglyphs
- Anatolian rug
- Ancestral hall
- Ancestral Puebloan pottery
- Ancestral tablet
- Ancient Macedonian calendar
- Ancient North Arabian
- Ancient South Arabian script
- Andiron
- Andron
- Anelace
- Aneurysm needle
- Angarium
- Angbu ilgu
- Angel (coin)
- Angklung
- Anglo-Saxon helmet
- Anglo-Saxon runes
- Angon
- Angular harp
- Animal pound
- Ankus
- Annealing
- Annuity
- Annular vault
- Annulet
- Anorak
- Ansate brooch
- Ant sutures
- Ant-nose money
- Antarala
- Antariya
- Antefix
- Antenna sword
- Antimension
- Antimony (metal)
- Antler frontlet
- Antoninianus
- Aoqun
- Apadana
- Apene
- Apex (headwear)
- Aphract
- Aplustre
- Apodesmos
- Apodyterium
- Apotropaic wand
- Applique
- Apron dress
- Apse
- Apulo-Corinthian helmet
- Aqua regia
- Aquamanile
- Aquila
- Arabic diacritics
- Arachne sundial
- Aramaic alphabet
- Arbyle
- Arch dam
- Arch-gravity dam
- Arched harp
- Architrave
- Archivolt
- Arcosolium
- Arcuballista
- Ard
- Ardhamandapa
- Argenteus
- Argive grip
- Arm ring
- Armarium
- Armenian alphabet
- Armenian calendar
- Armenian numerals
- Armet
- Armill
- Armilla
- Arming cap
- Arming point
- Arrada
- Arrastra
- Arrow guide
- Arrow scoop
- Arrow-shaft wrench
- Arsenal
- Arsenic (prepared)
- Arsenical bronze
- Artemisia remedy
- Artemon
- Artesonado
- Artificial flower
- Artificial gemstone
- Artificial respiration
- Artillery castle
- Aryballos
- As (coin)
- Asbestos cloth
- Ash glaze
- Asherah pole
- Ashlar
- Ashtadhatu
- Ashtapada
- Askoma
- Askos
- Asor
- Aspergillum
- Aspis
- Assay
- Assegai
- Asterisk (liturgy)
- Astrarium
- Astrolabe quadrant
- Astrolabic clock
- Astronomical chess
- Astronomical compass
- Astronomical compendium
- At-your-desire war cart
- Atbash
- Atgeir
- Athanor
- Atlantic roundhouse
- Atlas (architecture)
- Atlatl dart
- Atrium
- Atsumi ware
- Attar
- Attic base
- Attic calendar
- Attic helmet
- Aucissa fibula
- Audiencia
- Augustalis
- Aulaeum
- Aulos
- Aumbry
- Aumoniere
- Aurum potabile
- Austroasiatic crossbow
- Authepsa
- Automaton clock
- Aventail
- Avestan alphabet
- Aviary
- Awasqa
- Awe-inspiring fierce-fire yaksha gun
- Awe-inspiring long-range cannon
- Axe-money
- Ayotl
- Ayoyotl
- Azekura
- Azimuthal quadrant
- Aztec numerals
- Aztec writing
- Azulejo
- Azurite (pigment)
- Azusa yumi
- Babouche
- Babylonian calendar
- Backed bow
- Backslopping
- Backstitch
- Backstrap loom
- Bactrian alphabet
- Bahansen
- Bai script
- Baidarka
- Baidiequn
- Baijiayi
- Bailey
- Bain-marie
- Bainiaoqun
- Baji
- Baju kurung
- Bak
- Balag
- Balance wheel
- Balanced rudder
- Balangay
- Balbal
- Balbis
- Balinese saka calendar
- Balinese script
- Balinger
- Ball court marker
- Ball court ring
- Ball flower
- Ball-headed club
- Ballcourt
- Ballgame yoke
- Ballot box
- Balsa raft
- Balteus
- Bamboo pipeline
- Bamboo tube well
- Banbi
- Band loom
- Band weaving
- Banded armour
- Bandit-striking penetrating gun
- Banna'i
- Bannerstone
- Banpo symbols
- Bansuri
- Banya
- Baofu
- Baptismal font
- Baptistery
- Baray
- Barbacoa frame
- Barbarian attacking cannon
- Barbat
- Barbe
- Barbette
- Barbican
- Barbiton
- Barbotine
- Barbute
- Barca
- Bardiche
- Bargeboard
- Barid
- Barilla
- Barinel
- Baris
- Bark beater
- Bark canoe
- Barkcloth
- Barmkin
- Barrel cylinder
- Barrel roof
- Barrel vault
- Barricade
- Barsom
- Bartizan
- Barulkos
- Bascinet
- Baselard
- Bashlyk
- Bashofu
- Basin irrigation
- Basket boat
- Basket capital
- Basket-handle arch
- Basse-taille
- Basting
- Bastion
- Bastion fort
- Batán
- Batik
- Bating (leather)
- Baton de commandement
- Battery tower
- Battle wagon
- Batzen
- Bay (sighting stick)
- Bay window
- Baybayin
- Bayonet mount
- Beacon
- Bead and reel
- Bead-net dress
- Beakhead
- Beam bridge
- Beam press
- Bearded axe
- Bearing sword
- Beauty patch
- Bec de corbin
- Bed crossbow
- Bee swarm bomb
- Beehive bell
- Beehive hut
- Begena
- Beitass
- Beizi
- Bell cuirass
- Bell pit
- Bell-cot
- Bellfounding
- Belt course
- Belt drive
- Belt hook
- Belvedere
- Bema
- Beneventan script
- Bengali calendar
- Bengali script
- Beni
Rare 1,259 · 60 pts each
- 24-hour day
- 360-degree circle
- 60-minute hour
- Abaya
- Acre
- Acupuncture
- Adhesive bandage
- Adze
- Aeolipile
- Aglet
- Alarm clock
- Almanac
- Altar
- Ambulance
- Amphitheatre
- Amphora
- Amputation
- Amulet
- Anapiesma
- Anchor
- Anesthesia
- Anklet
- Anno Domini
- Antidote
- Antikythera mechanism
- Antiseptic
- Anvil
- Apron
- Arabic alphabet
- Arabic numerals
- Arbalest
- Arcade
- Arch
- Arch bridge
- Archery target
- Archimedes' screw
- Archimedes' sphere
- Architectural cramp
- Armillary sphere
- Armoire
- Arquebus
- Arrow extractor
- Arrowhead
- Arrowslit
- Arterial clamp
- Artesian well
- Artificial eye
- Artificial fly
- Artillery
- Astrolabe
- Astronomical clock
- Astronomical sextant
- Atlas
- Attic (architecture)
- Auger
- Automatic door
- Automaton
- Autopsy
- Awl
- Baby bottle
- Baby walker
- Backgammon
- Backpack
- Backscratcher
- Bagpipes
- Baking
- Balafon
- Balance scale
- Balcony
- Ball bearing
- Ballast
- Ballista
- Baluster
- Bamboo slips
- Bamboo-copter
- Bandage
- Bangle
- Barge
- Barn
- Barracks
- Basement
- Basilica
- Basin
- Bass drum
- Bat (bat-and-ball)
- Bathhouse
- Bathroom
- Battering
- Battering ram
- Battle axe
- Battlements
- Bead
- Bearing
- Beehive
- Bell tower
- Bellows
- Beret
- Bessemer process
- Bikini
- Billhook
- Billiard table
- Biological warfare
- Birdcage
- Birthing chair
- Blanching
- Blast furnace
- Bleaching
- Blinkers
- Block and tackle
- Bloodletting
- Bloomery
- Blowgun
- Blowpipe
- Board game
- Bobbin
- Body paint
- Body piercing
- Boiling
- Bolas
- Bomb
- Bombard
- Bond
- Bone tool
- Bonsai
- Book clasp
- Bookbinding
- Bookmark
- Boomerang
- Boots
- Bow drill
- Bow saw
- Bowling ball
- Bowstring
- Bra
- Bracelet
- Braiding
- Braising
- Brake
- Branding iron
- Brass
- Brazen bull
- Brazier
- Brazing
- Breaking wheel
- Breastplate
- Brewing
- Bridle
- Brining
- Brooch
- Buckle
- Buckler
- Bullet
- Buoy
- Burial mound
- Burin
- Burning mirror
- Butter churn
- Butter making
- Buttress
- Cabin
- Caesarean section
- Cage
- Calamine lotion
- Calamistrum
- Calico
- Calipers
- Caltrop
- Cam
- Camel saddle
- Camera obscura
- Camp bed
- Candelabrum
- Candle clock
- Candle snuffer
- Cannonball
- Canoe
- Cantilever
- Canvas
- Capital (column)
- Carat
- Caravanserai
- Caravel
- Carding bow
- Carousel
- Carpenter's brace
- Carpenter's square
- Carrack
- Cart shafts
- Cashmere
- Cast iron
- Casting
- Castle
- Catamaran
- Cataract surgery
- Cathedral
- Catheter
- Cauldron
- Caulking
- Caustic soda
- Cautery
- Ceiling
- Celestial navigation
- Ceruse
- Cesspit
- Cestus
- Chain drive
- Chain mail
- Chalice
- Chamber pot
- Chandelier
- Chapel
- Charcoal
- Cheese press
- Cheese strainer
- Cheesemaking
- Chemise
- Cheque
- Chest
- Chicken coop
- Chinampa
- Chinese calendar
- Chinese characters
- Chisel
- Choker
- Chopper
- Chopping
- Christian cross
- Church
- Church tabernacle
- Churka
- Cigar
- Cipher
- Circumcision
- Circus
- Cistern
- Clamp
- Clapper
- Clasp
- Clavichord
- Claw hammer
- Claw of Archimedes
- Clay tablet
- Claymore
- Cleaver
- Cloak
- Clock face
- Clock tower
- Clog
- Cloth of gold
- Clothes iron
- Clothesline
- Coach (carriage)
- Coat
- Coat of arms
- Cobblestone
- Codpiece
- Coffin
- Cog
- Coke
- Cold cream
- Cold storage
- Collyrium
- Color printing
- Column
- Comb
- Combination lock
- Compass rose
- Composite bow
- Conch trumpet
- Condom
- Conical hat
- Contract
- Cookbook
- Cooking pot
- Cork stopper
- Corset
- Corvus
- Cosmetics
- Cotton cloth
- Covered wagon
- Cowbell
- Crane
- Crank
- Crankshaft
- Crayon
- Crop rotation
- Cross-stitch
- Crowbar
- Crown
- Crucible
- Crucifix
- Crutch
- Cuneiform
- Cupboard
- Curb
- Curing
- Cursive
- Cutting board
- Cymbals
- Damascus steel
- Dane axe
- Dart
- Death mask
- Death whistle
- Deboning
- Decanting
- Decimal point
- Deep frying
- Defensive wall
- Dental drill
- Dental filling
- Dental implant
- Dentures
- Deodorant
- Dhow
- Diaper
- Dice
- Dicing
- Dictionary
- Didgeridoo
- Digging stick
- Dildo
- Discus
- Dissection
- Distillation
- Dividers
- Diving bell
- Dock
- Dog collar
- Dog sled
- Doll
- Dome
- Dominoes
- Door bolt
- Door handle
- Door knocker
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Dowel
- Draughts (checkers)
- Drawbridge
- Drawing compass
- Dress
- Dresser
- Drill
- Drinking glass
- Drinking horn
- Drinking straw
- Drumstick
- Dugout canoe
- Dungeon
- Dye
- Ear pick
- Ear spool
- Earring
- Earth oven
- Easel
- Eaves
- Eel trap
- Egg cup
- Electrum
- Elevator
- Embroidery
- Encyclopedia
- Enema
- Engagement ring
- Engraving
- Envelope
- Eraser
- Essential oil
- Etching
- Ewer
- Exclamation mark
- Facial mask
- Feather bed
- Felt
- Fence
- Fermentation
- Fermentation jar
- Ferry
- Fertilizer
- Fibula
- Fiddle
- File
- Filter
- Fingerprint signature
- Fire arrow
- Fire drill
- Fire engine
- Fire lance
- Fire poker
- Firecracker
- Fish hook
- Fish pond
- Fish trap
- Fishing boat
- Fishing line
- Fishing lure
- Fishing net
- Fishing reel
- Flag
Schoolers 176 · 30 pts each
- Abacus
- Alphabet
- Aqueduct
- Armor
- Arrow
- Axe
- Axle
- Bag
- Ball
- Barrel
- Basket
- Bathtub
- Bed
- Bed sheet
- Bell
- Belt
- Bench
- Blanket
- Boat
- Bookcase
- Bottle
- Bow and arrow
- Bowl
- Brick
- Bridge
- Bronze
- Broom
- Brush
- Bucket
- Button
- Calendar
- Canal
- Candle
- Candlestick
- Cannon
- Carpet
- Carriage
- Cart
- Catapult
- Cement
- Chain
- Chair
- Chariot
- Chess
- Chimney
- Chopsticks
- Clepsydra
- Clock
- Clothing
- Club
- Codex
- Coin
- Concrete
- Cooking
- Couch
- Cradle
- Crossbow
- Cup
- Curtain
- Cushion
- Cutlery
- Dagger
- Dam
- Desk
- Door
- Drain
- Drum
- Eyeglasses
- Fan
- Fireplace
- Fireworks
- Fishing rod
- Flute
- Footstool
- Fork
- Gear
- Glass
- Glue
- Gun
- Hammer
- Hammock
- Hat
- Hieroglyphics
- Hoe
- Hourglass
- House
- Hut
- Ink
- Iron
- Irrigation
- Kite
- Knife
- Lever
- Lock and key
- Map
- Mattress
- Mill
- Mirror
- Moat
- Movable type
- Nail
- Oil lamp
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Paper money
- Papyrus
- Perfume
- Pillow
- Pipe
- Plate
- Playing cards
- Plow
- Plumbing
- Pottery
- Printing
- Pulley
- Pump
- Pyramid
- Quill
- Quilt
- Reed pen
- Ring
- Road
- Roof
- Rope
- Ruler
- Sail
- Scissors
- Screw
- Sewer
- Sewing needle
- Shampoo
- Shelf
- Shield
- Ship
- Shoes
- Shovel
- Silk
- Sled
- Sling
- Soap
- Socks
- Spear
- Spoon
- Staircase
- Steel
- Stone tool
- Stool
- String
- Sundial
- Sword
- Table
- Tap
- Tent
- Throne
- Tire
- Toilet
- Toilet paper
- Toothpaste
- Torch
- Trebuchet
- Trousers
- Umbrella
- Underwear
- Vase
- Wagon
- Wall
- Water wheel
- Weaving
- Well
- Wheelbarrow
- Windmill
- Window
- Wire
- Writing
- Zero
Plankton 5 · 10 pts each
- Compass
- Gunpowder
- Paper
- Printing press
- Wheel
See all seven prompts from Krillion on November 13, 2026, get today's Krillion hints and answers, or read how Krillion scoring works.