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chessman

[ches-man, -muh n]
noun, plural chess·men [ches-men, -muh n] /ˈtʃɛsˌmɛn, -mən/.
  1. any piece used in the game of chess.
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Origin of chessman

1275–1325; Middle English; earlier chesse meyne, equivalent to chesse chess1 + meyne household (man, men by folk etymology) < Middle French mesniée < Latin mansiōn- (stem of mansiō); see mansion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chessman

Historical Examples

  • "I 'm off my play; I have not touched a chessman these three years," said Ogden, pettishly.

    One Of Them

    Charles James Lever

  • "Don't talk to me that way, Barry," Chessman growled truculently.

    Adaptation

    Dallas McCord Reynolds

  • The Tulans began dragging the snarling, cursing Chessman to the door.

    Adaptation

    Dallas McCord Reynolds

  • And why I did not take my revenge on Chessman after he'd killed Reif.

    Adaptation

    Dallas McCord Reynolds

  • Chessman assumed command of the men, growled brief instructions.

    Adaptation

    Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for chessman

chessman

noun plural -men
  1. any of the eight pieces and eight pawns used by each player in a game of chess
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Word Origin

C17: back formation from chessmen, from Middle English chessemeyne chess company, from meynie, menye company, body of men, from Old French meyné
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012