mah-jongg Definition

mah-jong
mah-jongg
noun

1. An old game of Chinese origin, usually played by four players using a set of 144 small patterned tiles made of wood, ivory or bone, divided into suits and ‘honours' tiles. The rules are similar to rummy.

Etymology: 1920s: Shanghai Chinese ma chiang, meaning ‘sparrows', perhaps alluding to the chattering sound made by the tiles during play.