chekmat

Middle English

Alternative forms

• cheke-mate, chekmaat, chek-maat, chek mat, chekmate, chek-mate, chek mate

Etymology

From Old French eschec mat, from Arabic شَاه مَاتَ (šāh māta), from Persian شاه مات (šâh mât, “the king [is] amazed”), perhaps conflated with Arabic مَاتَ (māta, “to die”). Equivalent to chek +‎ mat.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃɛkˌmaːt/, /ˈt͡ʃɛːkˌmaːt/

Interjection

chekmat

1. (chess) Said when the opponent's king is captured. [from 14th c.]

Descendants

• English: checkmate

Noun

chekmat (uncountable)

1. checkmate (total defeat or ruination)

Descendants

• English: checkmate

Adjective

chekmat

1. Totally defeated or ruined.

References

• “chek-māt, adj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.