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scacco

check (chess)

noun SKAHK-koh Rare

Origin: From Arabic shāh (king), via Persian, the same root as 'chess.'

Also means

square (pattern)

Usage Note

Scacco means a check in chess (dare scacco = to put in check) and by extension a setback or defeat: subire uno scacco (to suffer a setback). The plural scacchi means the game of chess itself: giocare a scacchi. A tessuto a scacchi is a check-patterned fabric. Scacco matto is checkmate.

Examples

"Ha dato scacco matto in poche mosse."

Natural Translation

He delivered checkmate in just a few moves.

Literal Translation

He-has given check mate in few moves.

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