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Webster 1913 Edition


backgammon

back′gamˊmon

,
Noun.
[Origin unknown; perhaps fr. Dan.
bakke
tray + E.
game
; or very likely the first part is from E.
back
, adv., and the game is so called because the men are often set
back
.]
A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a “board” marked off into twenty-four spaces called “points”. Each player has fifteen pieces, or “men”, the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called
tables
.
backgammon board
,
a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two “tables”.

Webster 1828 Edition


Backgammon

BACKGAM'MON

,
Noun.
A game played by two persons, upon a table, with box and dice. The table is in two parts, on which are 24 black and white spaces, called points. Each player has 15 men of different colors for the purpose of distinction.