1
Stage 1 of 4
chaturaṅga
Sanskrit · c. 600s
"a four-part war game"
literally "four divisions", referring to the parts of an ancient army
2
Stage 2 of 4
shatranj
Persian · c. 600s-700s
"the game of chess"
adapted after the game reached Persia and spread with Islamic expansion
3
Stage 3 of 4
eschec(s)
Old French · c. 1100s
"the game of chess"
named after the "check" move rather than the whole game
4
Stage 4 of 4
chess
English · c. 1300s
"the strategy board game"
settled as the name for the full board game
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