Domino Terms and Language

Bones, Tiles, or Stones
The actual playing pieces. While Dominoes is the name of the game, referring to a playing piece as a domino is not strictly correct.

Blank
An end of a tile which contains no pips or spots.
Doublet or Double
A tile which contains the same number of pips at both ends.

Double Sixes
The highest ranking tile in a 28 tile set. Also, the name of such a set.
Double Nines
The highest ranking tile in a 55 tile set. Also, the name of such a set.
Double Twelves
The highest ranking tile in a 91 tile set. Also, the name of such a set.

Shuffle
To mix the bones while they are turned face down on the table.
Draw
To pick the bones for your hand out of a central pile or the boneyard.
Bone pile or Boneyard
Spare bones left after the draw that may be used as a draw pile in some games.

Heavier
A bone with more spots on it is said to be heavier than another bone with fewer spots.
Lighter
A bone with fewer spots on it is said to be lighter than another bone with more spots.

Block Games
The goal of these games is to play all of your bones or block all your opponents from playing any of their bones.
Point Games
These games are very similar to block games but add the additional goal of scoring points as bones are laid.
Match Games
These games resemble Rummy card games. The goal is to form sets of bones that may be laid aside and scored when all bones have been laid.

The Game Cabinet - editor@gamecabinet.com - Ken Tidwell