tesserae

Noun

tessera (plural tesserae)

1. A small square piece of stone, wood, ivory or glass used for making a mosaic.
   • The map was laid using tesserae, small cube-shaped tiles of limestone, marble, or colored stone.2014, Jerry Brotton, Great Maps, DK, page 35
2. A complex-ridged surface feature seen on plateau highlands of Venus and perhaps on Triton.
3. (rare) An ancient Roman die.
   • During the reign of Augustus, Rome imported marble from Egypt and Africa, and games of tali and tessera were played.1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 110