en passant

[ ahn pa-sahnt; French ahn pah-sahn ]

adverb

1. (italics) French. in passing; by the way.
2. Chess. (used when a pawn that has moved two squares is captured by an opponent's pawn commanding the square that was passed.)

en passant

/ ɒn pæˈsɑːnt; ɑ̃ pasɑ̃ /

adverb

1. in passing: in chess, said of capturing a pawn that has made an initial move of two squares to its fourth rank, bypassing the square where an enemy pawn on its own fifth rank could capture it. The capture is made as if the captured pawn had moved one square instead of two

Word History and Origins

Origin of en passant¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Word History and Origins

Origin of en passant¹

C17: from French

Example Sentences

I may remark, en passant, that there is a large proportion of German population throughout Ohio.

From Project Gutenberg

A workman may be honest to a certain extent, and venture in, en passant, to papa Desnoyers's.

From Project Gutenberg

J'admire vos talens; je m'amuse de vos rveries qui (soit dit en passant) vous occupent trop et trop longtemps.

From Project Gutenberg

Some places are like some women, charming, en passant, but intolerable upon close acquaintance.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Pike did not reach the fort till the next morning about ten, I will say en passant.

From Project Gutenberg