chek

English

Etymology

From the Yale romanization of the Cantonese 尺 (cek³). Doublet of chi.

Noun

chek (plural cheks or chek)

1. A Hong Kong foot.

Anagrams

• Heck, heck

Middle English

Alternative forms

• chec, check, chekke, cheque, ecchekke

Etymology

From Old French eschec, from Medieval Latin scaccus, borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh), borrowed from Persian شاه (šâh), from Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ /⁠šāh⁠/), from Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ /⁠xšāyaθiya⁠/, “king”). Compare ches.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡ʃɛk/, /t͡ʃɛːk/

Interjection

chek

1. (chess) Said when the opponent's king is under attack. [from 14th c.]

Descendants

• English: check

References

• “chē̆k̄, interj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Noun

chek (plural chekkes)

1. (chess) The threatening of a king. [from 15th c.]
2. An assault, attack, or raid. [from 14th c.]
3. A deed, event or occurrence. [from 14th c.]
4. (rare) A checkered pattern. [from 15th c.]
5. (falconry, rare) A check. [from 15th c.]

Related terms

• cheker
• chekmat

Descendants

• English: check, cheque (see there for further descendants)

References

• “chē̆k̄, interj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.