I. ˈches noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English ches, from Old French esches, accusative plural of eschec check at chess — more at check
: a game of ancient origin for two played on a chessboard in which each player moves his chessmen according to fixed types of movements for each across the board in such a way as to try to checkmate the opponent's king
[s]chess.jpg[/s] [
chessboard with chess pieces arranged as at the beginning of a game
]
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English ches tier, modification of Middle French chasse frame, mounting — more at chasse
1. now dialect England
a. : tier , layer
b. : row IV
2. plural chess or chesses : one of the boards placed transversely on the balk of a pontoon bridge to form the flooring
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: origin unknown
: a weedy annual bromegrass ( Bromus secalinus ) native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in grain and sometimes popularly believed to be a degenerate wheat ; broadly : any of several weedy bromegrasses