sparrow dominoes

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English

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Etymology

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

Noun

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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

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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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