pachisi

UK: /pəˈtʃiːzɪ/ US: (pə chē′zē, pä-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•chi•si  (pə chē′zē, pä-), n. 

1. Games a board game, originated in ancient India, in which four players advance four pieces each along a route on a cross-shaped board toward a center square by throws of cowrie shells or dice.
2. Games a modern version of this game. Also, parchesi, parchisi. 

• Hindi pacīsī, adjective, adjectival derivative of pacīs twenty-five
• 1790–1800

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pachisi / pəˈtʃiːzɪ pɑː-/ noun

1. an Indian game somewhat resembling backgammon, played on a cruciform board using six cowries as dice

Etymology: 18th Century: from Hindi pacīsī, from pacīs twenty-five (the highest score possible in one throw)