check

check
{{11}}check (n.) early 14c., "a call in chess noting one's move has placed his opponent's king in immediate peril," from O.Fr. eschequier "a check at chess" (also "chess board, chess set"), from eschec, from V.L. *scaccus, from Arabic shah, from Pers. shah "king," the principal piece in a chess game (see SHAH (Cf. shah); also Cf. CHECKMATE (Cf. checkmate)).
When the king is in check a player's choices are limited. Meaning widened from chess to general sense of "adverse event" (c.1300), "sudden stoppage" (early 14c.), and by c.1700 to "a token used to check against loss or theft" (surviving in hat check) and "a check against forgery or alteration," which gave the modern financial use of "bank check, money draft" (first recorded 1798 and often spelled cheque), probably influenced by exchequeur. Meaning "pattern of squares" (c.1400) is short for CHECKER (Cf. checker). Checking account is attested from 1923, American English.
{{12}}check (v.) late 14c., in chess; see CHECK (Cf. check) (n.). All the other senses seem to have developed from this one: "To arrest, stop," late 14c.; "to hold in restraint" (1620s); "to hold up or control" (an assertion, a person, etc.) by comparison with some authority or record, 1690s (as a player in chess limits his opponent's ability to move when he places his opponent's king in check). Hence, to check off (1839); to check up (1889); to check in or out (in a hotel, of a library book, etc.). Related: Checked; checking.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • check — check …   Dictionnaire des rimes

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  • Check — (ch[e^]k), n. [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. [ e]chec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. [ e]checs chess, through Ar., fr. Pers. sh[=a]h king. See {Shah}, and cf. {Checkmate}, {Chess}, {Checker}.] 1. (Chess) A word of warning… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • check-up — [ (t)ʃɛkɶp ] n. m. inv. • v. 1960; mot angl. « vérification complète », de to check « vérifier » ♦ Anglic. Examen systématique de l état de santé d une personne (équiv. fr. : bilan de santé). Examen d une situation pour en tirer un bilan. ⇒ audit …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • check — [chek] n. [ME chek < OFr eschec, eschac, a check at chess, repulse < ML scaccus, scahus < Pers šāh, king, principal piece in a game of chess (see SHAH1); prob. sense development: king in danger hostile action restraining action means of… …   English World dictionary

  • Check — Check, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Checked} (ch[e^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {checking}.] 1. (Chess) To make a move which puts an adversary s piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check. [1913 Webster] 2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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