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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Chess

Chĕss, n.

noun

n. [From Fr. échecs, pl.; O. Fr. eschec, Pr. escac, It. scacco, Sp. & Pg. xaque, Ger. schach, from Per. shâh, king, as being the principal figure. See CHECK, n., and CHECKMATE.] A game played by two persons, on a board containing sixty-four squares, like that used in checkers, with two differently colored sets of pieces, or men, sixteen in each set: eight are pawns, having the same value and moves; the others vary in value and movement, and are the king, the queen, two bishops, two knights, and two castles, or rooks.

Chĕss, n.

noun

n. [Cf. Per. khas, bad, evil, weed, thistle, thorn.] (Bot.) A kind of grass (Bromus secalinus) which grows among wheat, and is often erroneously regarded as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears some resemblance to oats, and if reaped and ground up with wheat, so as to be used for food, is said to produce narcotic effects;—called also cheat. [U. S.]