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check¹

  • /t͡ʃɛk/
  • [t͡ʃʰɛk̚]

Sounds like cheque, Czech · Rhymes with -ɛk

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *tek-

Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati

Proto-Iranian *xšáyati

Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ)

Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ)

Classical Persian شاه (šāh)bor.

Arabic شَاه (šāh)bor.

Medieval Latin scaccusder.

Old French eschecbor.

Middle English chek

English check

From Middle English chek, chekke, borrowed from Old French eschec, eschek, eschac, from Medieval Latin scaccus, borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king or check at chess, shah”), borrowed from Classical Persian شَاه (šāh, “king”), from Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ /⁠šāh⁠/), from Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ /⁠xšāyaθiya⁠/, “king”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati (“he rules, he has power over”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to gain power over, gain control over”).

Compare Saterland Frisian Schak, Schach, Dutch schaak, German Schach, Danish skak, Swedish schack, Icelandic skák, French échec, Italian scacco. Doublet of chess and shah (“king of Persia or Iran”), from the same source, as well as thig, which derives from the Germanic cognate.

All of the English senses developed from the chess sense.

noun checks

  1. An inspection or examination. I don't know if she will be there, but it's worth a check.
  2. A control; a limit or stop. checks and balances
  3. A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
  4. US A mark (especially a checkmark: ✓) used as an indicator. Norton had made a neat, lawyerly check beside each of the items he and Billy had picked up—half a dozen or so, including the milk and a six-pack of Coke.
  5. US An order to a bank to pay money to a named person or entity. I was not carrying cash, so I wrote a check for the amount.
  6. US A bill, particularly in a restaurant. I summoned the waiter, paid the check, and hurried to leave.
  7. A maneuver performed by a player to take another player out of the play. The hockey player gave a good hard check to obtain the puck.
  8. A token used instead of cash in various contexts, including sign-out of company property or collection of rations (dated), in gaming machines, or in gambling generally. a brass check
  9. A lengthwise separation through the growth rings in wood.
  10. A mark, certificate, or token by which errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified. a check given for baggage
  11. The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
  12. A small chink or crack.
  13. In randomizers, a possible place where an item may be.

check²

  • /t͡ʃɛk/
  • [t͡ʃʰɛk̚]

Sounds like cheque, Czech · Rhymes with -ɛk

Where it comes from

From Middle English chekken, partly from Old French eschequier and partly from the noun (see above).

verb checks · checking · checked · check

  1. transitive To inspect; to examine. Check the oil in your car once a month.
  2. transitive To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
  3. US, often, transitive To mark items on a list (with a checkmark or by crossing them out) that have been chosen for keeping or removal or that have been dealt with (for example, completed or verified as correct or satisfactory). Check the items on the list that interest you.
  4. transitive To control, limit, or halt. Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.
  5. informal, transitive To scold or rebuke someone.
  6. transitive To verify or compare with a source of information. Check your data against known values.
  7. transitive To leave in safekeeping. Check your hat and coat at the door.
  8. transitive To leave with a shipping agent for shipping. Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.
  9. transitive To pass or bounce the ball to an opponent from behind the three-point line and have the opponent pass or bounce it back to start play. He checked the ball and then proceeded to perform a perfect layup.
  10. transitive To disrupt another player with the stick or body to obtain possession of the ball or puck. The hockey player checked the defenceman to obtain the puck.
  11. transitive To announce that one is remaining in a hand without betting. Tom didn't think he could win, so he checked.
  12. transitive To make a move which puts an adversary's king in check; to put in check. After I checked my opponent with a pawn, he resigned immediately.
  13. transitive To chide, rebuke, or reprove. The good king, his master, will check him for it.
  14. To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
  15. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
  16. transitive To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack. The sun checks timber.
  17. intransitive To make a stop; to pause. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after.
  18. obsolete To clash or interfere. For if it [Loue] checke once with businesse, it troubleth Mens fortunes.
  19. To act as a curb or restraint. It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.
  20. To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds. And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye.
  21. intransitive To check out, make sense or prove to be the case after verification or interrogation. Didn’t remember that at all. But it sure checks!
  22. In randomizers, to go to and collect a possible place where an item may be.

interjection

  1. An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied. Keys? Check. Batteries? Check. We are all ready to go!
  2. An expression that indicates that the speaker wishes to pay the bill (e.g. in a restaurant).

check³

  • /t͡ʃɛk/
  • [t͡ʃʰɛk̚]

Sounds like cheque, Czech · Rhymes with -ɛk

Where it comes from

By shortening from chequer, from Old French eschequier (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.

noun checks

  1. in plural A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern. The tablecloth had red and white checks.
  2. Any fabric woven with such a pattern.

verb checks · checking · checked

  1. transitive To mark with a check pattern.

adjective

  1. not comparable, possibly, rare Checky, i.e. chequy. CHECKY, […] Checky, according to Colombiere, is one of the most noble and ancient figures […] Checky is always composed of metal, and colour. […] So that if that be or, and the next gules, the house or family is said to bear check, or, and gules. When the whole shield is not chequered , but only the

check⁴

  • /t͡ʃɛk/
  • [t͡ʃʰɛk̚]

Sounds like cheque, Czech · Rhymes with -ɛk

noun checks

  1. India, Pakistan, alternative Alternative form of chick (“window blind or door screen”).chick

Check⁵

proper noun Checks

  1. A surname.

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