sparrow dominoes

English

Etymology

calque of Chinese 麻將／麻将 (májiàng) + dominoes.

Noun

sparrow dominoes (uncountable)

  1. The game of mahjong.
    • 1935, National Council of Teachers of English, Secondary Section, English Journal:
      Even "Mah-Jongg," for example, is called "sparrow dominoes"—and very rightly, since that is what the Chinese word means to the Chinese.

Noun

sparrow dominoes pl (plural only)

  1. The tiles used in this game.
    • 1921, John Dewey, “Impressions from Canton”, in China Monthly Review:
      There is probably no town in China where the click of the Sparrow dominoes is so little heard.
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