chess

¹

[ ches ]

noun

1. a game played on a chessboard by two people who maneuver sixteen pieces each according to rules governing movement of the six kinds of pieces (pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen, king), the object being to bring the opponent's king into checkmate.

chess

²

[ ches ]

noun

, plural chess·es.

1. any of several weedy species of bromegrass, especially Bromus secalinus.

chess

³

[ ches ]

noun

, plural chess, chess·es.

1. one of the planks forming the roadway of a floating bridge.

chess

¹

/ tʃɛs /

noun

1. a floorboard of the deck of a pontoon bridge

chess

²

/ tʃɛs /

noun

1. a game of skill for two players using a chessboard on which chessmen are moved. Initially each player has one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns, which have different types of moves according to kind. The object is to checkmate the opponent's king

chess

³

/ tʃɛs /

noun

1. a less common name for rye-brome

Word History and Origins

Origin of chess¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English che(e)s, chesse, echesse, esches, from Old French esches, plural of eschec check ¹

Origin of chess²

First recorded in 1735–40; origin unknown

Origin of chess³

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English ches “tier, layer,” possibly alteration of Middle French chasse “frame”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chess¹

C15 (in the sense: layer, tier): from Old French chasse frame, from Latin capsa box

Origin of chess²

C13: from Old French esches, plural of eschec check (at chess); see check

Origin of chess³

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

This is not speed chess, to reference Reeves’s favourite pastime.

From BBC

The thieves took the ring, a charm bracelet, some cash, a tablet computer and a valuable chess set on 23 September.

From BBC

Reeves played chess from an early age, with her father teaching her the key moves.

From BBC

"He was well known as a theologian but the way he connected with people was through talking about chess, traditional music, cinema, and his support for Alianza Lima football club."

From BBC

This can make the characters feel more like chess pieces than people you might care about, excellent performances notwithstanding.

From Los Angeles Times