Glossary of domino terms

A

B

1. To [|play] a [|tile] whose [|suit] an opponent cannot follow.
2. Alternative name for tile.
3. Alternative name for a [|block game].
4. Alternative name for a blocked game.

C

1. The amount of gains at any stage of a game.
2. To reckon or score the game.

D

1. To play all the [|tiles] in a [|hand], usually ending play for the [|round]. Hence 'dominoed' or 'dominoer'.
2. An individual [|piece] in a domino set. According to John McLeod, however, this popular usage is incorrect.
3. The 1-1 or double-1 tile.

E

1. One of the two sides on the [|face] of a tile, divided by the central dividing line, that is marked with a suit.
2. The surface of a tile furthest from the centre, a tile having two [|ends], two sides a face and a back.
3. That half of a tile in a line of tiles that may be played upon.

F

G

1. A session at dominoes played between two or more players to a given set of rules.
2. A series of [|hands] resulting in a player or partnership making a winning score. See also round, hand and [|match].

H

1. The set of tiles that belong to each player, not usually held in the hand, but placed on edge on the table facing him or her.
2. The cycle of rounds played with those tiles as part of a game. See also round, game, match.
3. Same as round.

J

K

L

1. The first play made by the player who is on set.
2. The player who directs the play for his team.
3. The first piece played in a given hand.

1. Player who [|sets] the first tile.
2. A double played in a matching or scoring game when a player has no matching tiles in his hand.

M

1. Series of games needed for a player or team to win. See also round, hand, and game.
2. To play a tile such that adjacent ends have the same [|spot] value.

O

1. To be forced to draw when on set, thus going off set.

1. To be first to play.
2. To be first in the order or play to go out.

P

1. The pin or marker used to score, usually on a cribbage board. Also [|spilikin].
2. To score e.g. "pegging five".

1. The stakes.
2. The dish or container for such stakes.
3. Alternative name for the boneyard.

R

S

1. To place a tile on the table.
2. The first tile of the hand played. Also lead.
3. A player who does not make his bid has been 'set'.

1. One of the two teams in a partnership game.
2. One of the two longer edges of a tile; as opposed to the two ends, the face or the back.

1. The first double played during a game in e.g. Sniff or certain variants of All Fives.
2. A metal pin or nail head in the centre of a tile face that enables the tiles to be [|shuffled] more readily.
3. A double that is usually turned at right angles to the line of play and enables [|arms] to be developed from both ends as well as the open side. However, some games permit a double to be played inline or crosswise. It becomes a spinner once it has been played on opposite sides or ends.

1. All the tile halves of equal rank e.g. the fours, the sevens, etc.
2. The denomination of tile end.

   T

1. The array of face up tiles on the table upon which plays in the game are made. Also layout or table.
2. The arrangement of tiles, which may be face up and/or face down, in solitaire domino games.

1. The suit named by the winner of an auction in [|bidding games] that automatically beats other tiles.
2. Alternative name for double.

   U

W

Z

Literature