An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schach

by Friedrich Kluge

Schach, n., ‘chess,’ from MidHG. schâch, m. and n., ‘king (at chess), chessboard, checkmating move’; the chessboard was usually termed schâch-zabel in MidHG., zabel (even in OHG. zabal, ‘chess or draught board’), being changed by permutation from Lat. tabula. MidHG. schâch was obtained through a Rom. medium from Pers. schâh, ‘king’; it is strange, therefore, that the HG. word ends in ch in contrast to the Rom. cc; comp. Ital. scacco, Fr. échec. This must be ascribed to a fresh influence of the orig. word.