CHESS - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Noun
weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
Categories: Brome, Bromegrass
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Noun
a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king
Categories: Board game
Synonyms
Chess, Cheat, Chess game, Bromus secalinus
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "chess" comes from Old Persian 𐏋. It started in Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠. Then it appeared in Persian شاه. Later, people used it in Arabic شَاه. After that, it was Medieval Latin scaccus. Over time, it became Old French eschés. Finally, it reached Middle English ches. Many other languages have similar words:.
- German: Schach
- Italian: scacchi
- French: échecs
- Catalan: escacs
- Dutch: schaak
- French: châssis
🔗 Related Words
shah – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
This word's path shows how empires, trade, and scholarship spread vocabulary across continents.