Chequer
/ˈtʃek.ər/noun
A checkered pattern or a board marked with alternating squares; also a variant spelling of "checker."
Did you know?Chequer comes through Old French from the Latinized Arabic game term for chess, and its square pattern helped give English the idea of a “checkered” surface long before modern design words existed.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian
Middle Persian
šāh
“king; the ruler piece in chess”
Arabic
Arabic
šāh
“king; chess king”
Old French
Old French
eschequier
“a chessboard; a checkered board”
Middle English
English
cheker / chequier
“a chessboard, then a patterned board of alternating squares”
Modern English
English
chequer
“a checkered pattern or board; British spelling of checker”