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.
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
The castle moat should hold the enemy in check.
1 more example
a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity2026 August 3 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 33. Monday, July 23. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:
3
Board games, Chess, Games 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.1980, Stephen King, The Mist, Viking Press:
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.
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.
Liverpool had been reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute, Ibrahima Konaté collecting a second yellow card for a check on Kai Havertz.2024 February 4, David Hytner, “Arsenal ignite title hopes as Gabriel Martinelli punishes Liverpool error”, in The Guardian:
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
[…]the statute prohibits a machine which dispenses checks or tokens for replay[…]1963, American law reports annotated: second series, volume 89:
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
a return check on a railroad
11
Falconry, Hobbies, Hunting, Lifestyle The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
3
US, Often, Used with "off" 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.
Check the correct answer to each question.
4
To control, limit, or halt.
Check your enthusiasm during a negotiation.
c. 1775–1780, Edmund Burke, letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression
1 more example
She was about to retort but something checked the words on her tongue.1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
To verify or compare with a source of information.
Check your data against known values.
7
To leave in safekeeping.
Check your hat and coat at the door.
8
To leave with a shipping agent for shipping.
Check your bags at the ticket counter before the flight.
9
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.
Street basketball
He checked the ball and then proceeded to perform a perfect layup.
That basket doesn't count—you forgot to check!
10
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports 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
Card games, Poker To announce that one is remaining in a hand without betting.
Tom didn't think he could win, so he checked.
12
Board games, Chess, Games 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
To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
The good king, his master, will check him for it.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
14
Nautical, Transport 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
To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack.
The sun checks timber.
17
With at 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.a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:
For if it [Loue] checke once with businesse, it troubleth Mens fortunes.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Love”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
19
To act as a curb or restraint.
It [his presence] checks too strong upon me.1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
20
Falconry, Hobbies, Hunting, Lifestyle 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.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
21
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!2024 March 19, @Appelmea, Twitter:
Etymology From Middle English chekken, partly from Old French eschequier and partly from the noun (see above).
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).
check
adj
Etymology By shortening from chequer, from Old French eschequier (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.
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 chief, a bend, cross, or the like, the number of ranges should be expressed.1741, Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopaedia: Or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (etc.) 5. Ed:
He died about 1270; and his son, Sir Robert, assisted the brave Sir William Wallace, and died in 1800. BOYD ARMS. Azure, a fesse check, argent et gules.1825, Robert Trotter (the Younger.), Derwentwater; Or, the Adherents of King James. A Tale of the First Rebellion. With an Appendix, Containing Genealogical Notices and Anecdotes of Several Ancient and Honourable Families, page 115:
check
noun
Etymology By shortening from chequer, from Old French eschequier (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.
1
Business, Manufacturing, TextilesIn plural A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
The tablecloth had red and white checks.
One of her female followers, had made a very elegant piece of check. The Friend, being at her house, on a visit, the lady shewed the check to her, and as evidence of devotion to her leader, proposed presenting her with a pattern off the piece for her own use.1819, Charles Mowry, in the Downington Pennsylvania American Republican, quoted in Herbery Wisbey, Pioneer Prophetess: Jemima Wilkinson, the Publick Universal Friend
Etymology By shortening from chequer, from Old French eschequier (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium, ultimately from the same Persian root as above.