Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- AntoineFats, born 1928, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.
noun plural -noes
- a small rectangular block used in dominoes, divided on one side into two equal areas, each of which is either blank or marked with from one to six dots
- (modifier) exhibiting the domino effecta domino pattern of takeovers
noun plural -noes or -nos
- a large hooded cloak worn with an eye mask at a masquerade
- the eye mask worn with such a cloak
noun
- Fats. real name Antoine Domino born 1928, US rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll pianist, singer, and songwriter. His singles include “Ain’t that a Shame” (1955) and “Blueberry Hill” (1956)
1801, from French domino (1771), perhaps (on comparison of the black tiles of the game) from the meaning “hood with a cloak worn by canons or priests” (1690s), from Latin dominus “lord, master” (see domain), but the connection is not clear. Klein thinks it might be directly from dominus, “because he who has first disposed his pieces becomes ‘the master.’ ” Metaphoric use in geopolitics is from April 1954, first used by U.S. President Eisenhower in a “New York Times” piece, in reference to what happens when you set up a row of dominos and knock the first one down.