List of definitions of terms and jargon used in dominoes
The following is a
glossary of terms used in
dominoes. Besides the terms listed here, there are numerous regional or local slang terms. Terms in this glossary should not be game-specific, i.e. specific to one particular version of dominoes, but apply to a wide range of domino games. For glossaries that relate primarily to one game or family of similar games, see the relevant article.
The end of a
tile marked with one spot. A 'one'.[1]
arm
A single straight line of
tiles within the
tableau.[1] McLeod specifies that it only has one
open end.[2]
B
back
The broad surface of a
tile with no
pips or
bar. They may be entirely blank or have a design which is the same on every tile.[2] The reverse side of a
tile.[1]
banker
Also called the
house, the person responsible, in a
banking game for distributing
chips, keeping track of the stakes and paying winners at the end. A dealer against whom the punters bet.
banker's set
The 3–2 domino, so called because, if
set in a
scoring game, it cannot be scored on.[3]
bar
The line dividing the face of a tile into two halves. Also divider or centre line.[2]
bid
The number of points a player undertakes to achieve if they win the auction in bidding games. The winning bidder names trumps and leads.[4]
bidding game
Game in which there is an auction where players
bid the number of
tricks they hope to take. The winning bidder announces
trumps and sets the first
tile
To play all the
tiles in a hand, usually ending play for the
round.[2] Hence 'dominoed' or 'dominoer'.[4]
An individual piece in a
domino set.[7] According to
John McLeod, however, this popular usage is incorrect.[2]
domino set
A complete batch of
tiles, each one occurring exactly once, that is used to play one or more
domino games. Sets vary in size; for example, a double-six set has 28 tiles and a double-eight set has 45 tiles. Also
deck or
pack.
High-numbered. A 'heavy'
tile or tile
end is one with a high number of
pips. The half of a tile with the greater number of pips is the heavy end. Some games start with the player who holds the heaviest tile setting it first.[12]
hit the deck
To be forced to draw from the
boneyard (aka deck) because you have no playable
tiles.[9]
A
double played in a matching or scoring game when a player has no matching
tiles in his
hand.[4]
light
Low-numbered. A 'light'
tile or tile
end is one with a low number of
pips. The half of a tile with the fewer pips is the lighter end. Some games start with the player holding the lightest tile leading.[12]
lighthouse
A
double in the
hand with no matching tiles in the same hand. Played first it is a "lighthouse set".[9]
Cycle of play during a
game in which each player places a
tile on the table,
draws from the
boneyard, passes or performs some other action when it is his turn. See also
hand,
game and
match.[2]
round game
Game in which every player plays for himself or herself.[4]
row
A line of
tiles placed face up and side to side on the table. See also
train.[2]
A metal pin or nail head in the centre of a
tileface that enables the tiles to be
shuffled more readily.[2]
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.[2] 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.[9]
List of definitions of terms and jargon used in dominoes
The following is a
glossary of terms used in
dominoes. Besides the terms listed here, there are numerous regional or local slang terms. Terms in this glossary should not be game-specific, i.e. specific to one particular version of dominoes, but apply to a wide range of domino games. For glossaries that relate primarily to one game or family of similar games, see the relevant article.
The end of a
tile marked with one spot. A 'one'.[1]
arm
A single straight line of
tiles within the
tableau.[1] McLeod specifies that it only has one
open end.[2]
B
back
The broad surface of a
tile with no
pips or
bar. They may be entirely blank or have a design which is the same on every tile.[2] The reverse side of a
tile.[1]
banker
Also called the
house, the person responsible, in a
banking game for distributing
chips, keeping track of the stakes and paying winners at the end. A dealer against whom the punters bet.
banker's set
The 3–2 domino, so called because, if
set in a
scoring game, it cannot be scored on.[3]
bar
The line dividing the face of a tile into two halves. Also divider or centre line.[2]
bid
The number of points a player undertakes to achieve if they win the auction in bidding games. The winning bidder names trumps and leads.[4]
bidding game
Game in which there is an auction where players
bid the number of
tricks they hope to take. The winning bidder announces
trumps and sets the first
tile
To play all the
tiles in a hand, usually ending play for the
round.[2] Hence 'dominoed' or 'dominoer'.[4]
An individual piece in a
domino set.[7] According to
John McLeod, however, this popular usage is incorrect.[2]
domino set
A complete batch of
tiles, each one occurring exactly once, that is used to play one or more
domino games. Sets vary in size; for example, a double-six set has 28 tiles and a double-eight set has 45 tiles. Also
deck or
pack.
High-numbered. A 'heavy'
tile or tile
end is one with a high number of
pips. The half of a tile with the greater number of pips is the heavy end. Some games start with the player who holds the heaviest tile setting it first.[12]
hit the deck
To be forced to draw from the
boneyard (aka deck) because you have no playable
tiles.[9]
A
double played in a matching or scoring game when a player has no matching
tiles in his
hand.[4]
light
Low-numbered. A 'light'
tile or tile
end is one with a low number of
pips. The half of a tile with the fewer pips is the lighter end. Some games start with the player holding the lightest tile leading.[12]
lighthouse
A
double in the
hand with no matching tiles in the same hand. Played first it is a "lighthouse set".[9]
Cycle of play during a
game in which each player places a
tile on the table,
draws from the
boneyard, passes or performs some other action when it is his turn. See also
hand,
game and
match.[2]
round game
Game in which every player plays for himself or herself.[4]
row
A line of
tiles placed face up and side to side on the table. See also
train.[2]
A metal pin or nail head in the centre of a
tileface that enables the tiles to be
shuffled more readily.[2]
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.[2] 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.[9]