sparrow dominoes

English

Etymology

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

Noun

sparrow dominoes

  1. (uncountable) 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.
  2. (plural only) 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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