checker

¹

British, che·quer

[chek-er]

noun

1. a small, usually red or black disk of plastic or wood, used in playing checkers.

2. checkers,

   1. British, draughts. (used with a singular verb),  a game played by two persons, each with 12 playing pieces, on a checkerboard.

   2. (in a regenerative furnace) loosely stacked brickwork through which furnace gases and incoming air are passed in turn, so that the heat of the exhaust is absorbed and later transferred to the incoming air.

3. a checkered pattern.

4. one of the squares of a checkered pattern.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark like a checkerboard.

2. to diversify in color; variegate.

3. to diversify in character; subject to alternations.

   Sorrow and joy have checkered his life.

checker

²

[chek-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that checks.

2. a cashier, as in a supermarket or cafeteria.

3. a person who checks coats, baggage, etc.

checker

¹

/ ˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of chequer

noun

1. textiles a variant spelling of chequer

2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): draughtsman. any one of the 12 flat thick discs used by each player in the game of checkers

checker

²

/ ˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. a cashier, esp in a supermarket

2. an attendant in a cloakroom, left-luggage office, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of checker¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English check(i)er, chequer, chekker “chessboard, checkerboard,” from Old French eschequier, eschaquier (by shortening), equivalent to eschec + -er; check ¹, -er ²

Origin of checker²

First recorded in 1525–35; check ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“The checkers and the cashiers are on the front lines of this,” he said.

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California, biomass energy advocates say, has struggled to get past its distrust of the technology, given traditional biomass’ checkered past of clear-cutting forests and polluting poorer communities.

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In October, however, no one’s history has been more checkered.

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Brown made sure to conceal his checkered past from potential business partners.

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The first lady also has a checkered history when it comes to her prose.

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