kriegspiel

[ kreeg-speel, -shpeel, kreek- ]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a game using small figures and counters that represent troops, ships, etc., played on a map or miniature battlefield, developed for teaching military tactics to officers.
2. a form of chess in which both players see only their own pieces on a board in front of them and must remember the opponent's moves as told to them by a referee who maintains a third board on which the play of both players is shown.

kriegspiel

/ ˈkriːɡˌspiːl /

noun

1. sometimes capital a form of war game in which symbols representing military formations are moved about on maps
2. a variation of chess in which each player has his own board and men and does not see his opponent's board and men. The moves are regulated by an umpire on a third board out of sight of both players

Word History and Origins

Origin of kriegspiel¹

1805–15; < German Kriegsspiel, equivalent to Krieg ( e ) s, genitive of Krieg war + Spiel game

Word History and Origins

Origin of kriegspiel¹

C19: from German Kriegsspiel war game

Example Sentences

As a gipsy novel, as a novel depicting gipsy life, 'Kriegspiel' is unrivalled.

From Project Gutenberg

Nowhere can fiction p. 364give us one to match her, not even the ‘Kriegspiel’ heroine, who touched me to the deeps.

From Project Gutenberg

The northern third of Natal is as vulnerable a military position as a player of kriegspiel could wish to have submitted to him.

From Project Gutenberg

Each leader assumed that the moves of the Kriegspiel had been correctly played and that there was nothing more to be done.

From Project Gutenberg

We then proceeded to Kriegspiel, according to the mysterious ideas of those in authority over us.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dress rehearsal
• tryout