backgammon
backgammon ({not transcribed}) , noun
[Origin unknown; perhaps from Danish bakke tray + English game; or very likely the first part is from English 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.
Collocations (1)
backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two “tables”.
backgammon , transitive verb
In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first “table”. When played for betting purposes, the winner in such a case scores three times the wagered amount.