Mahjong
/ˈmɑːˌdʒɒŋ/noun
A Chinese game played with numbered and symbol-marked tiles, usually by four players.
Did you know?The English spelling was popularized in the 1920s by Joseph Park Babcock, whose simplified rules helped turn mahjong into an international craze.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Chinese
麻将
“A regional Chinese name for the tile game; pronounced májiàng in Mandarin.”
19th Century
Chinese dialects
麻雀
“In some accounts, a related form meaning “sparrow,” possibly referring to the clicking sound of the tiles; this connection is debated.”
Late 19th Century
English
Mah-jong
“Early English transliteration used for the Chinese tile game.”
1920s
English
Mah-Jongg
“Commercial American spelling popularized through Joseph Park Babcock’s rulebooks and tile sets.”
Modern English
English
mahjong
“The now-standard English spelling for the game.”