Check (?), n. [OE. chek, OF.
eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance, orig.
check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess,
through AR., fr. Pers. shāh king. See Shah,
and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.]
1. (Chess) A word of warning denoting
that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by
an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose
it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in
check, and must be made safe at the next move.
2. A condition of interrupted or impeded
progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in
check.
Which gave a remarkable check to the first
progress of Christianity.
Addison.
No check, no stay, this streamlet
fears.
Wordsworth.
3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits
action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff.
Useful check upon the administration of
government.
Washington.
A man whom no check could abash.
Macaulay.
4. A mark, certificate, or token, by
which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be
identified; as, checks placed against items in an account;
a check given for baggage; a return check on a
railroad.
5. A written order directing a bank or
banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check,
below.
6. A woven or painted design in squares
resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of
such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.
7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a
hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
8. Small chick or crack.
Bank check, a written order on a banker
or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the
signer. -- Check book, a book
containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. --
Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a
harness, over which a checkrein is looped. -- Check
list, a list or catalogue by which things may be
verified, or on which they may be checked. -- Check
nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down
upon the primary nut to secure it. Knight. --
Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the
feed pipe of a boiler to prevent the return of the feed
water. -- To take check, to take
offense. [Obs.] Dryden.
Syn. -- Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction;
reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally;
counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
Check, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Checked (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. checking.] 1. (Chess)
To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his
king, in check; to put in check.
2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to
stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb.
So many clogs to check and retard the
headlong course of violence and oppression.
Burke.
3. To verify, to guard, to make secure,
by means of a mark, token, or other check; to distinguish by a
check; to put a mark against (an item) after comparing with an
original or a counterpart in order to secure accuracy; as, to
check an account; to check baggage.
4. To chide, rebuke, or
reprove.
The good king, his master, will check him
for it.
Shak.
5. (Naut.) To slack or ease off,
as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause
to crack; as, the sun checks timber.
Syn. -- To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control;
hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove;
rebuff.
Check (?), v. i. To make a
stop; to pause; -- with at.
The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its
power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks
at any vigorous undertaking ever after.
Locke.
2. To clash or interfere. [R.]
Bacon.
3. To act as a curb or
restraint.
It [his presence] checks too strong upon
me.
Dryden.
4. To crack or gape open, as wood in
drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint,
etc.
5. (Falconry) To turn, when in
pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.
And like the haggard, check at every
feather
That comes before his eye.
Shak.
Check, a. Checkered; designed
in checks.
