1
Stage 1 of 4
shah
Persian · ancient
"king"
meant "king"; called out when the king piece was threatened in chess
2
Stage 2 of 4
scaccus
Vulgar Latin · medieval
"chess"
the term for chess spread into Europe through Arabic-mediated trade and translation
3
Stage 3 of 4
eschec
Old French · c. 1300
"check at chess; stoppage"
named the move that threatened the king, and by extension any sudden stoppage
4
Stage 4 of 4
check
English · c. 1300 - 1798
"restraint, verification, bank draft"
broadened from the chess term to "restraint" (1510s), a verification mark (1856), and a written bank order (1798)
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