Domino is a game piece, similar to dice or playing cards, that can be used for a variety of games. A domino has a rectangular shape with one side blank and the other side bearing a series of spots called pips that indicate its value. A traditional domino set has 28 tiles. Larger sets, such as double-nine (55 tiles), are also available. Some games are played with a single domino, while others use several to form long lines that require strategic placement of the pieces and patience as they fall.
Dominoes have been around for centuries. They are cousins of the Chinese game lu shu, which was played with bamboo strips. Unlike lu shu, however, domino is a tiled game. The first domino game was likely a simple version of the Chinese game, in which players placed a single tile at a time to build an octagonal structure.
In modern times, domino has become a popular pastime for individuals and groups alike. Dominoes can be used for artistic purposes to create shapes such as squares, letters, or hearts, and can even be arranged to make 3D structures. Dominoes can be carved into wood or stone, and even found in jewelry. They can be purchased in a wide array of colors and styles.
Hevesh began her domino career as a child, making her first creations with the colorful building blocks. Her YouTube channel now has more than 2 million subscribers, and she has created elaborate domino setups for films, TV shows, and events, including a Katy Perry album launch. The largest of her arrangements can take several nail-biting minutes to fall.
When it comes to book editing, I often instruct clients to think of each scene in their novel as a domino. A domino doesn’t have much impact on its own, but when it’s paired with other dominoes, it can set off a chain reaction that naturally carries the story forward.
For example, when writing a romantic scene, you might imagine each character’s interaction as a domino. If the heroine and her love interest can match each other dominoes, it’s easy to see how their conversations can move the plot forward.
Dominoes can also help with nonfiction writing, such as memoirs and essays. A writer can use domino effects to highlight key moments in a story and make it more compelling for the reader.
The word domino derives from the Latin dominum, meaning “master” or “lead.” In its earliest sense, it meant a hooded cloak with mask covering the face, worn at masquerades. By the mid-19th century, the word had come to mean a kind of abacus, and by the early 20th, it had taken on its current meaning. The modern sense of the word, however, reflects its role as the foundation of various games, involving placing tiles in lines or angular patterns and matching their ends to establish values. Domino is a registered trademark of Domino’s Pizza, Inc. in the United States and Canada, and is owned by DPMI LLC.