One theory is that the word is derived from the Arabic word 'yakhtsah', which means 'he who owns a fifth'. Lowe Company, who changed the name to Yahtzee when they trademarked it in the United States.Īs for the origin of the word 'Yahtzee' itself, there are a few theories. The game was called 'The Yacht Game' until it was picked up by the E.S. Baker and his wife, who played it with friends on their yacht. The game that would become Yahtzee was originally created by a Canadian couple named Elwood H. The meaning of the word Yahtzee itself is somewhat unclear, but there are a few theories about its origins. Lowe Company when they acquired the rights to the game in the 1950s.
The game is named after the game's trademarked name, 'Yahtzee', which was coined by the E.S. Yahtzee is a classic dice game that has been popular for decades, both as a family game and in competitive play.