# Slang names for dice and dominoes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531 "2004-05-10T22:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/1 "2004-05-10T22:51:28Z")
What are slang names for dice and dominoes, besides ivories and bones? Are there slang names for polyominoes, dominoes of orders higher than six (Double nine, double twelve, etc.), and multi-facted dice? Please let me know-Thank you [JGoldman10@email.com](mailto:JGoldman10@email.com) ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/2 "2004-05-13T00:12:54Z")
> [@JGoldman10](#): > > What are slang names for dice and dominoes, besides ivories and bones? > Are there slang names for polyominoes, dominoes of orders higher than six (Double nine, double twelve, etc.), and multi-facted dice? Please let me know-Thank you > > [JGoldman10@email.com](mailto:JGoldman10@email.com) Seriously, Does any one have any input? Am I in the right forum? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/3 "2004-05-13T00:25:06Z")
This is more an IMHO than a GQ really. Anyway. Dice are ‘Cubes’ regardless of the number of faces, at least among a portion of gamers. ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/4 "2004-05-13T00:48:06Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > This is more an IMHO than a GQ really. > > Anyway. Dice are ‘Cubes’ regardless of the number of faces, at least among a portion of gamers. Okay, what about dominoes? ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/5 "2004-05-14T18:59:43Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > This is more an IMHO than a GQ really. > > Anyway. Dice are ‘Cubes’ regardless of the number of faces, at least among a portion of gamers. So dice can be multifacted polygons, and they’re called “cubes”, even they have more than six sides. Man, don’t you just love a paradox? Are there any dice that are pyramids? Or any games that incorporate or incorporate the use of pyramids? Are there any other names for dominoes? One other name I can think of is “African dice”? ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/6 "2004-05-14T19:06:45Z")
Shut up and roll the bones… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/7 "2004-05-14T19:59:02Z")
Slang name for dominos = crap pizza ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/8 "2004-05-14T20:40:54Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Slang name for dominos = crap pizza NO HAmpshire, I’m referring to the “tiles”, which is another name for dominoes, not the pizza\> DO you know know any other names for dominoes? ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/9 "2004-05-14T20:42:46Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Slang name for dominos = crap pizza No Hampshire, I’m referring to the “tiles,” which is another name for dominoes, not the pizza. Do you know any other names for dominoes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/10 "2004-05-14T20:44:41Z")
Are there any dice that are pyramidal? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/11 "2004-05-14T21:21:05Z")
[Four-sided dice](http://images.google.com/images?q=four+sided+dice+picture&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi&sourceid=tipimg) I think I still have a couple of these kicking around from my AD&D days… ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/12 "2004-05-14T21:59:30Z")
[QUOTE=JGoldman10] What are slang names for dice and dominoes, besides ivories and bones? Are there slang names for polyominoes, dominoes of orders higher than six (Double nine, double twelve, etc.), and multi-facted dice? Please let me know-Thank you [JGoldman10@email.com](mailto:JGoldman10@email.com)[/QUO Dice=Galloping Dominoes ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/13 "2004-05-15T01:24:31Z")
Dice are called “knucklebones”, because that’s what they were originally made from. Those bones, in many animals, are naturally prismoidal, and they are almost universally used in games of chance. I suspect “bones” is reduced from “knucklebones”. You know about “snake eyes” (two ones) and “boxcars” (two sixes) – the reasons for them are obvious. When researching my book, I learned that “snake eyes” is called “Kali” in India. Kali is known for her wide-eyed stare. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/14 "2004-05-15T01:48:31Z")
> [@JGoldman10](#): > > Are there any dice that are pyramidal? That reminds me, the d4 (I guess that’s another bit of jargon - referring to dice as d\) is AKA the Caltrop. For obvious reasons. And good reasons, as anyone who has dropped their d4 on the floor can tell you. (Owowow.) Standard RPG dice are d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/15 "2004-05-15T01:53:51Z")
I’ve seen a d100. It looked like a big golf ball. Completely useless, of course, but an amusing tabletop item of conversation. ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/16 "2004-05-17T22:53:18Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’ve seen a d100. It looked like a big golf ball. Completely useless, of course, but an amusing tabletop item of conversation. Okay, I thank you all for for your input thus far. 😃 What are some other slang terms for dominoes? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/17 "2004-05-17T23:06:48Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’ve seen a d100. It looked like a big golf ball. Completely useless, of course, but an amusing tabletop item of conversation. Oh yeah? Wait till I pull out my d100 Longsword of Implausibility. 😛 Your generally available dice are your d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. I’ve used all those. I used to use either a d20 or 2 d6s for life (and others) counting in Magic. ---
**Author:** ![JGoldman10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@JGoldman10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JGoldman10)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/18 "2004-05-18T00:11:06Z")
> [@JGoldman10](#): > > What are slang names for dice and dominoes, besides ivories and bones? > Are there slang names for polyominoes, dominoes of orders higher than six (Double nine, double twelve, etc.), and multi-facted dice? Please let me know-Thank you > > [JGoldman10@email.com](mailto:JGoldman10@email.com) I repeat-what are other names for dominoes? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/19 "2004-05-18T00:47:23Z")
> [@JGoldman10](#): > > I repeat-what are other names for dominoes? Are you being held at gunpoint by a gentleman in a ski mask who is threatening to shoot you if you fail to come up with other names for dice and dominoes? That’s what I’m hearing. /aside Isn’t there a craps term for two twos? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531/20 "2004-05-18T02:54:07Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > Isn’t there a craps term for > two twos? Other than “hard two”? I don’t think so, as I believe the term “little Joe” is only used for a 3 and a 1. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-names-for-dice-and-dominoes/244531.md?page=2)