Glossary of Games Terminology

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]}