DCHP-1 Online

platter

• n. usually, game of the platter. See 1792 and 1921 quotes.

  See also: bowl and beans  game of the platter  lahal  pagessan  

  • Variations of this ancient game are widely played among the Indians to the East of the Rockies, lahal, q.v., being usual among the Indians of British Columbia. Other games of chance played among the Indians include the hand game, the moccasin game, the stick game, and the two-stick game, qq.v. Writers referring to these games do not always use the terms unambiguously; nor do they describe the many variations clearly.

  • 1760  This game, which shall be called the game of the Platter, can only be played between two persons, each of which has six or eight little bones, somewhat resembling, both in size and figure, the stones of apricots.
  • 1792  (1801)  [The instruments of it consist of a platter or dish made of wood or bark and six round or square but flat pieces of metal, wood, or stone, whose sides or surfaces are of different colours. These are put into the dish, and after being for some time shaken together are thrown into the air and received again in the dish with considerable dexterity, when by the number that are turned up of the same mark or colour the game is regulated. If there should be equal numbers, the throw is not reckoned; if two or four, the platter changes hands.]
  • 1800  (1897)  . . . I remained an hour with the worthless vagabonds, who do nothing but play at the game of the platter.
  • 1921  The quarrel in this instance arose out of a gambling game called "the platter," of which many of these western Indians were extremely fond. It was played with a platter or dish of wood or bark and with six round or square flat pieces of metal, wood, or stone, whose sides were painted different colors.