scaccus

Forms

scaccus m (genitive scaccī); second declension^[2][3] Variant spellings include scacus, scachus, scacchus and chacus.^[3][2] British sources also have scacca and scaccius.^[4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king (in chess)”),^[1][4] from Persian شاه (šāh, “king”).^[1][5] Köbler compares Old French eschac (“chess”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first record is in the writings of Peter Damian in the 11th century,^[2] where it is used of chess.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word named a chessman, and in the plural (scaci) the game of chess.^[3][2] As a call in the game it meant check, the warning that the opponent's king is attacked: a player says scachum to the king, and with mat it gave checkmate.^[1][4] The phrase in scacco ponere meant to put a king in check.^[4]

Through Old French it gave English check, and through the Old French plural chess.^[5][1]

Timeline

• 11th century – Peter Damian uses it of chess.^[2]
• 1285 – A tenure is held by a service connected with the king's chessmen on Christmas Day.^[4]
• c. 1300 – English check in chess is first recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A chessman, chess piece.^[3][2][4]
2. (Medieval Latin, in the plural) The game of chess.^[3][2]
3. (Medieval Latin) check, the call that the king is attacked; with mat, checkmate.^[1][4]

Related words

• English check
• English chess

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f g Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com