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Here I collect some terms instead of reëxplaining them in many articles, as well as providing a place for discussion or expansion.
- eyes
-
A group of cards in Kànhǔ is called an ‘eye’ (眼 Cantonese: ngaan⁵).A[p. 156] In other games combinations are called called ‘ox’ (牛 Cantonese: ngau⁴).B[p. 88] I wonder if both terms are derived by modifying ‘pair’ (偶 Cantonese: ngau⁵)?C[p. 323]
In Mahjong the ‘eye’ is the pair that is required to make a complete hand.
- mournival
- Also murnivall, mourneval, mournaval, mourniuall, mornyfle; from French mornifle ‘slap’. An old English term for a set of four cards of the same rank.
- prial
- Also perryall, priol, prioll; from “pair royal”. An old English term for a set of three cards of the same rank.
- tong
-
Payment made to the owner of a gambling establishment, as a fixed fee per game or as a percentage of winnings.
- From the Chinese: ?
- Thai: ต๋ง (tong)
- Also used in Australia amongst Aboriginal groups who play Kuns.D[p. 42]
References
Culin, Stewart (). ‘The Game of Ma-Jong: Its Origin and Significance’. The Brooklyn Museum Quarterly vol. 11 (4), : pages 153–168.
Dobree, C. T. (). Gambling Games of Malaya. The Caxton Press: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Williams, Samuel Wells (). Tonic Dictionary of the Chinese Language in the Canton Dialect [英華分韻撮要]. Canton.
Robinson, Michael W. and Peter Yu (). ‘A Note on Kuns: An Aboriginal Card Game from the North-West of Western Australia’. Department of Aboriginal Affairs’ Newsletter vol. 11: pages 41–49.