checkmate etymology

Etymology

The word "checkmate" is derived from the Persian phrase "shāh māt" (شاه مات), which literally means "the king is dead."

Meaning

In chess, "checkmate" refers to the situation where:

• The king of one player is under immediate threat of being captured (in "check")
• There is no legal move the king can make to escape capture
• The king is therefore considered "dead" and the game is over

Origin

The Persian phrase "shāh māt" was first used in the game of chess, which originated in 6th-century India. The phrase was adopted into European languages through Arabic and later Latin.

Variations

In different languages, the term for "checkmate" has variations, including:

• English: Checkmate
• French: Échec et mat
• German: Schachmatt
• Russian: Шах и мат (Shakh i mat)

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