Another word for a tessellation is a tiling.

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from Dictionary.com

tessellation: (n.) A tessellation or tiling of the plane is a collection of plane figures that fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps. One may also speak of tessellations of the parts of the plane or of other surfaces. Generalizations to higher dimensions are also possible. Tessellations frequently appeared in the art of M.C. Escher. Tessellations are seen throughout art history, from ancient architecture to modern art.

from Reference.com

Basically, tessellation = tiling

Answer courtesy of a Library & Information Science grad student at San Jose State Univ.

“When you absolutely positively have to know, ask a librarian.” – Anonymous

In Latin, tessella was a small cubical piece of clay, stone or glass used to make mosaics. The word “tessella” means “small square” (from “tessera”, square, which in its turn is from the Greek word for “four”). It corresponds with the everyday term tiling which refers to applications of tessellation, often made of glazed clay.