A domino is a small, flat rectangular block used as a gaming object. Dominoes are a cousin of playing cards and dice, but unlike them can be manipulated in many ways. The markings on a domino, called pips, are often of a different color from the rest of the tile, and some are a combination of two colors. They are usually inlaid or painted. The pieces may be joined edge to edge to form a line or set in rows. Some sets are made from a variety of materials, including woods such as maple and oak; stone (e.g., marble, granite, and soapstone); metals such as brass and pewter; or ceramic clay.
Domino is also a type of game in which players try to form a chain of dominoes by placing one on top of another in order to cover a specified total. The first player to cover all of the pips on his or her tile wins. The domino is also used as a metaphor in many types of discussion, often in the context of a sequence of events that are caused by one action and then lead to similar actions, as a chain reaction. This is sometimes referred to as the domino effect or Domino theory.
In the comics, Domino is a mutant who uses her probability-altering powers and combat training as a freelance mercenary. Her adventures put her in the crosshairs of high profile opponents from Stryfe to Mister Sinister. A former bodyguard for the genius Milo Thurman, she later teamed up with the time-traveling mutant Cable (Nathan Summers) as part of his Wild Pack, worked for the Hong Kong branch of X-Corporation, and fought alongside the X-Men.
Domino starred in her own series in the 1970s and is well-known for her role as the leader of the Wild Pack and her psionic link with Cable. When Reality-295 briefly overlapped with Earth, Domino and Cable confessed their true feelings to each other. After reality was restored, Domino helped Cable restructure X-Force.
The word domino is derived from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord.” It is often abbreviated D.O.M., but the etymology of domino is also disputed.
Dominoes were introduced in China in the 1300s and represent one of the earliest gaming tools. The markings on the dominoes, known as pips, originally represented the results of throwing two six-sided dice. The European-style dominoes we recognize today were developed in the 18th century. The modern set consists of 28 tiles, each featuring either a single number or a double-six, and is used for positional games. Other game formats include blocking and scoring games. Blocking games such as matador and chicken foot are played by emptying the player’s hand, while scoring games, such as bergen and muggins, determine points by counting the number of dominoes in each opponent’s hand. Some sets are made from natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark hardwoods like ebony.