domino

Forms

domino m (plural dominos)^[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[2][3][4][5] It seems to be borrowed from Latin dominō (“(to the) Lord”), the dative or ablative of “dominus” “lord, master”, taken from a formula of prayer such as “benedicamus Domino” (“let us bless the Lord”), perhaps said while putting on the priest's hood, or used as a jocular clerical name for it;^{[2][3][4][6][7][8]} but Rey and Bloch and Wartburg say that the explanation is not well established.^[3][4] Littré derived it from a Medieval Latin “domino”, a priest's headgear, through “dominicale”, a head covering worn to receive communion.^[9]

The game seems to have been named after the black hood, because of the black backs of the pieces, rather than from a cry of the winner.^[2][3][4][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

An inventory of 1401 of a canon of Beauvais lists a domino, the black hooded cape that priests wore in winter.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

By extension, the priest's hood gave its name to a loose hooded robe worn at masked balls (1665), and to the person wearing it.^{[2][3][10][7]} The sense “sheet of paper printed with coloured figures” (1514) is harder to explain, perhaps Italian.^[2][3]

The game appears in 1771 (Trévoux), named after the black-backed pieces.^[2][3] From its tiles stood on end and knocking each other down came the anglicism théorie des dominos (1967) and effet domino; the shape of the tiles also named an electrical connector block and, in old slang, a tooth.^[3][11]

Timeline

• 1401 – A priest's black hooded cape.^[2][3]
• 1514 – Paper printed with coloured figures.^[2][3]
• 1665 – A hooded robe worn at masked balls (Colletet).^[2][10]
• 1718 – First recorded by the Académie.^[2]
• 1771 – The game (Trévoux).^[2][3]
• 1967 – Théorie des dominos.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A domino, one of the flat oblong pieces of the game, black on the back and marked with dots^[12][11]; (in the plural) the game: jouer aux dominos.^[12][11]
2. Effet domino: a chain reaction.^[1][11]
3. An electrical connector block.^[11][3]
4. A loose hooded robe worn at masked balls; a person wearing one.^[12][11]
5. (historical) A black hooded cape worn by priests in winter.^[12][1]

Related words

• dom
• Latin dominus
• English domino

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 131a
9. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
11. ^ a b c d e f Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert