A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, normally twice as long as it is wide. Its face is marked with pips (or dots) resembling those on dice. It is usually painted or engraved with black and white. The pips are often inlaid, but they may be printed.
In some games a player can “bye” tiles from the stock and add them to his or her hand. The player must then play these new tiles according to the rules of the game. The player must also keep track of the total number of tiles he or she has to play. If a player has more than he or she is allowed to have, the extra tiles must be returned to the stock before the next turn begins.
The word domino comes from the Latin dominium, meaning “flip.” A domino is flipped over and then sets off a chain reaction of the other pieces in the set. The effect is similar to the way that a nerve impulse travels down an axon.
Many different games can be played with dominoes. They can be as simple or as complex as you want. Some use straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. There are even tournaments for domino players.
A player can win by completing his or her hand first. If you can’t complete your hand, then you must pass the turn to another player. You can also win by being the first to finish playing your dominoes, if you have more than one left over when the game ends.
If a player cannot lay a domino on his or her turn, then he or she must knock the table and pass the turn to the next player. However, if the domino is a double, the other player must lay it to continue play.
The term domino originally denoted a hooded robe worn together with a mask at a masquerade. It appeared in English around 1750, and it entered French in the same year. It later referred to the game, which was popular in France during the 18th century. The game was also popular in the United States and other countries.