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submitted 6 months ago by partybot@lemmy.ca to c/til@lemmy.ca
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[-] GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip 31 points 6 months ago

The name itself is also derived from the shah title, many languages use a still very similar name for it. For example, in German it is called Schach, and checkmate is Schach-Matt.

[-] vodkasolution@feddit.it 23 points 6 months ago

Cool, I love etymology. Also mayday has a similar origin, it should come from the French m'aider, meaning help me

[-] seliaste@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I am not a specialist of old french, but m'aider would mean "to help myself" in modern french
Interesting fact, in french the Checkmate etymology gave "Échec et mat", which litterally meants "Failure and beaten" and the game is called "Échec".

[-] SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world 19 points 6 months ago
[-] bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 months ago
[-] Noodle07@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago
[-] Kanda@reddthat.com 2 points 6 months ago

Actual zombie

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I am pretty sure Māt mean "killed" (see Spanish "matar") and Shāh means king or lord. Shāh Māt likely means " murdered king" or "the king is dead".

EDIT: The Arab centric translation I thought of is discuased in the Etymology section of the linked article.

this post was submitted on 09 May 2024
181 points (98.4% liked)

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