fan-tan
(ˈfæntæn)
[Chinese fan t'an repeated divisions.]
A Chinese gambling game, in which a number of small coins are placed under a bowl and the players then bet as to what will be the remainder when the pile has been divided by four. Also attrib.
| 1878 A. Brassey Voy. Sunbeam xxiii. 401 A few natives playing at fan-tan. 1888 Pall Mall G. 16 May 2/1 At their fan-tan tables lads of ten..years of age may be seen gambling away their pence. 1888 Times (weekly ed.) 19 Sept. 15/4 The home of fantan..is the Portuguese colony of Macao. |
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Add: Also Fan Tan, fan tan. b. A card-game in which a seven is led and sequences developed on this.
| 1923 L. H. Dawson Hoyle's Games Modernized 218 Fan Tan, the simplest game of the ‘Pope Joan’, or ‘Stops’ family... The full pack of fifty-two cards is used, and any number of players can take part. 1975 Way to Play 312/4 Card dominoes. This game of luck and skill is also called sevens, parliament, and fan tan. |