fan-tan (f n tn )n. 1. A Chinese betting game in which the players lay wagers on the number of counters that will remain when a hidden pile of them has been divided by four. 2. A card game in which sevens and their equivalent are played in sequence and the first player out of cards is the winner. [Chinese f  n tn : fn, turn, chance + tn, to spread out.] |
fan-tan
n
1. (Group Games / Gambling, except Cards) a Chinese gambling game in which a random number of counters are placed under a bowl and wagers laid on how many will remain after they have been divided by four
2. (Group Games / Card Games) a card game played in sequence, the winner being the first to use up all his cards
[from Chinese (Cantonese) fan t'an repeated divisions, from fan times + t'an division]
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