domino
Definitions
A small flat tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes.
多米诺骨牌。
A hooded cloak with a half-mask worn at masquerades.
（化装舞会的）连帽斗篷；半面具。
Root Breakdown
LoanwordFrom Latin dominus (lord/master), via the phrase used in church Latin. It first named a black hooded cloak (linked to a priestly garment, the "Lord's" hood), then the black-and-white masquerade mask, and finally the black game tiles that resembled it. The "domino effect" — a chain of falling tiles — is a 20th-century image.
Root dom still carries 40 more wordsWhy It Means This
Domino is the family's oddest detour. From dominus (lord) came a black hooded cloak associated with clergy, then the masquerade half-mask of the same color, and only later the black game tiles that looked like little masks. The familiar "domino effect" of one tile toppling the next is a modern metaphor layered on top.
Common Collocations
- 1.domino effect多米诺效应
- 2.knock over a domino推倒骨牌
- 3.play dominoes玩多米诺骨牌
Example Sentences
- 1.
He knocked over the first domino and watched the rest fall.
- 2.
One bank's collapse triggered a domino effect across the market.
- 3.
She wore a black domino to the masked ball.