Scacco
/ˈskak.ko/noun
An Italian word for a chess check, and by extension a check or checkmate situation.
Did you know?Italian scacco ultimately comes from Persian shāh, “king,” the same royal root behind chess itself, because the game’s warning cry was literally about the king being attacked.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian
Persian
shāh
“king”
Middle Persian
Pahlavi
šāh
“king”
Arabic
Arabic
shāh
“king”
Medieval Latin
Latin
scaccus
“check in chess”
Old Italian
Italian
scacco
“check; checkmate situation”
Modern English
English
check
“a threat to the king in chess; a restraint or stoppage”