I. ˈdäməˌnō noun
( plural dominoes or dominos )
Etymology: French, probably from Latin domino (in the prayer formula benedicamus Domino let us bless the Lord), dative of dominus lord, master — more at dame
1.
a. : a hood worn by cathedral canons : amice
b. : a hooded cape worn by members of certain religious sisterhoods
2. : a long loose lightweight cloak with a hood usually worn with a half mask as a masquerade costume
3. : a half mask that is worn with a masquerade costume and formerly was used by women when traveling
4. : a person wearing a domino
5.
[French, from Italian, probably from domino master, lord (exclamation of the winner), from Latin dominus ]
a. : a flat rectangular block of bone, ivory, wood, or plastic the face of which is divided into two equal parts called ends which are blank or bear from one to usually six dots arranged as on dice faces
b. dominoes plural but usually singular in construction : any of several games played with a set of usually 28 pieces of dominoes and characterized generally by the matching of the end of a domino in the hand with an unmatched end of a domino already played
c.
(1) : the matching by a player of the last domino in his hand
the player who makes domino wins the hand
— often used interjectionally in the game
(2) : an act or moment of completion or irrevocable finality
I felt sure it was domino for me and my prospects
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to match the last domino in one's hand with one already played and thereby win the hand