In chess, a position where the king is under attack and cannot escape capture; a situation where someone is completely defeated or outmaneuvered.
From Arabic shāh māt meaning 'the king is dead,' combining Persian shāh 'king' with Arabic māt 'died.' The term entered Old French as eschec mat through contact with Arabic-speaking regions during the medieval period. Middle English adopted it as chekmat in the 14th century, later becoming the modern 'checkmate.'
This chess term is literally Arabic for 'the king is dead,' mixing Persian and Arabic words! Medieval chess players were so dramatic they declared the opposing king actually deceased, not just defeated, and we still use their theatrical announcement today.
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