For pessoi as game pieces in cubic shape, see pi 1384.
[1] Same headword -- evidently quoted from somewhere -- in other lexica, with same or similar glossing; references at Photius pi824 Theodoridis. The gloss metafe/rei is translated here as 'uses a metaphor' but might (DW) simply mean moves/transfers. Either way, there may be some connection with Philo Judaeus (of Alexandria), Life of Moses 1.31, given in LSJ s.v. pesseu/w as 'tu/xh a)/nw kai\ ka/tw ta\ a)nqrw/peia petteu/ei' ("fortune plays human affairs backwards and forwards"), but in Philo actually a phrase in the genitive with the participle petteuou/shs. This would be an allusion to the ancient war game, perhaps known as Petteia (pi 1384), in which pieces were moved both forward and backward (unlike tabla and other backgammon-games). In the very next entry, however, we have playing Petteia equated with playing tabla (pi 1392).
[2] Quoted from delta 1503, q.v.; this etymology is fanciful and implausible.