Throughout history, there have been several types of dominoes. They include Western dominoes, Chinese dominoes, and European dominoes. This article will discuss each of these types and their origins.
Origins
Originally referred to as a hooded masquerade costume, the word domino was shortened to “domino.” The word is derived from the Latin word dominus, which means hooded. Some also cite Egyptian origins. However, some sources attribute the game to China.
The word was first recorded in the Dictionnaire de Trevoux in 1771. A few years later, the term was used for a crude woodcut on paper.
The word may have been derived from the Latin dominus, which means a hooded mask worn by Christian priests during winter. Other sources cite the word for a mask, a monastic hood or primitive woodcuts.
Although many variations of the domino game have been invented, the original game was played with rectangular tiles. Each tile had a rectangular spot marked with a number. Players tried to match as many of these tiles as they could.
In the 18th century, the domino game began spreading throughout Europe. French prisoners of war brought it to England, possibly after the Napoleonic Wars.
European dominoes
Traditionally, European dominoes are made of bone, ivory or dark hardwoods such as ebony. They are designed to have an indented face with black dots and a black line in the middle. These dots are formed by drilling shallow holes into the bone and a thin layer of ebony is then inlaid.
The first dominoes in the UK were produced by French prisoners-of-war during the late 18th century. The dominoes were made from sheep and cow bones. They were glued to a back of ebony wood and were fixed together with a brass pin. The ebony provided a sturdy and rigid base for the dominoes.
The first dominoes in Europe were also manufactured from bone and ivory. These were then used in inns and taverns. In the 1860s, dominoes began to appear in American literature.
By the 1870s, dominoes had a widespread popularity in Britain. They were sold to supplement the allowances of prisoners of war. They were also used in Rube Goldberg machines. They were mainly played in family parlors and in pubs.
Chinese dominoes
Invented in China, Chinese Dominoes are a type of tile game. The tiles are made from a hard material, typically black. They are marked with spots or pips, which represent the outcome of a throw of two six-sided dice. They are sometimes referred to as k’wat pai, which means “bone tablets”.
The tiles are classified into two suits, the Civilian and Military. The Civilian suit is ranked according to ancient Chinese cultural significance, while the Military suit is based on the number of spots on the both ends of the tile.
The Chinese dominoes are distinguished from Western dominoes by their size and color. They are usually one inch wide, two and a half inches long, and have a two-sided face. In modern sets, some of the tiles have a blank face, while other ones are embossed.
The pips are red or white, depending on the suit. A tile with five pips is worth less than a tile with four pips.
Western dominoes
Traditionally, dominoes have been made of ivory or bone. They were first introduced in Europe in the 18th century. They are also now made of plastic, wood, and other composite materials. They can be played by two players or four. They are typically used for games of chance and scoring.
Western dominoes were first recorded in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. They were also carried into England during wars. The game has become popular in the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic. There are many different variations to the game, such as blocking and scoring games. Some of the most basic games are block-and-draw. The number of tiles to draw is based on the number of players and the size of the set.
A standard Chinese domino set contains thirty-two tiles. Each tile represents one of the possible faces of a thrown pair of dice. They are usually one inch wide by 2.5 inches long. They do not have a spinner, which makes it difficult to stack them.