check English · revision 3635

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tʃek/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|restraint; examination}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=peo xšāyathiya-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The chess term and its many extensions are [[inh|enm|chek]], [[bor|fro|eschec|t=check at chess; repulse]] (earlier [[m|fro|eschac]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-med|scaccus]],^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) which came through Arabic from Persian shāh, “king”, the chief piece in chess.^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002) Barnhart traces the Persian word to Old Persian [[m|peo|xšāyathiya-|t=king]].^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from Old French [[m|fro|eschequier|t=to play chess, put in check]].^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[shah]], [[chess]], [[checkmate]], [[exchequer]] and [[cheque]].^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In chess, a call warning that the opponent's king is under attack: about 1300.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary explains that the many later senses grew out of the idea of checking the king.^(AHD 2000) Already about 1300 ''check'' meant a harmful event,^(Etymonline) and before 1303 a rebuff,^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb “to stop, arrest” appears before 1387, in ''Piers Plowman''.^(Barnhart 1988) “A sudden stop” is from 1526,^(Barnhart 1988) “to restrain” from the 1620s, and “to verify by comparison” from the 1690s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) A counterfoil used to guard against forgery was a ''cheque'' in 1706, probably after ''exchequer'',^(Barnhart 1988) and a written order on a bank from 1798, in the letters of John Jay.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A token for property left in someone's care, as in ''hat check'', is from 1812, and ''to check'' baggage from 1846.^(Etymonline) A mark on a list showing that an item has been examined is from about 1856.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Check up'' is from 1883, ''check in'' and ''check out'' from 1909, and ''check out'', “to look at”, from 1959.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – check at chess; a harmful event.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1387 – verb, to stop (''Piers Plowman'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – a sudden stop.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1690s – to verify.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – a counterfoil.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1798 – a bank cheque.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – a token, as in ''hat check''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – a check mark.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1909 – ''check in'', ''check out''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1959 – ''check out'', to look at.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that stops or holds back; a [[restraint]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An abrupt halt.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # An examination or test, as of accuracy or quality.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chess)'' The position of a king under direct attack.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(US)'' A written order to a bank to pay money; a [[cheque]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A ticket or token for something left in someone's care.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A mark (✓) showing that something has been examined.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To stop abruptly; to hold back or [[curb]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To examine so as to find out accuracy or condition; to verify.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To put a check mark against.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To hand over for safekeeping: ''check a coat''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chess)'' To put the opponent's king in check.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to declare that the opponent's king is in check, or, informally, to signal agreement.^(AHD)

+

+ {{homograph|2|pattern of squares}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=c. 1400}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The pattern is a shortening of [[chequer]], also spelled [[checker]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) which goes back to Old French [[m|fro|eschequier|t=chessboard]], from [[m|fro|eschec]], the source of [[check#1]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A pattern of squares: about 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A fabric woven in such a pattern has been a ''check'' since the 1610s.^(Etymonline) The verb “to mark with squares” is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a pattern of squares.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – verb, to mark with squares.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1610s – a checked fabric.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A pattern of small squares like a [[chessboard]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A fabric with such a pattern.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To mark with a pattern of squares.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of paint or wood, to crack in a pattern of small squares.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chess]]

+ * [[checkmate]]

+ * [[shah]]

+ * [[exchequer]]

+ * [[cheque]]

+ * [[chequer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}