— Chekist , n.
/che"kah/ , n.
(in the Soviet Union) the state secret-police organization (1917-22), succeeded by the GPU. Cf. KGB .
[ 1920-25; Cheká, Vecheká, names of the initial letters of Vserossíiskaya chrezvycháinaya Kommíssiya ( po bor'bé s kontrarevolyútsiei, spekulyátsiei i sabotázhem ) All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (for the Struggle against Counterrevolution, Speculation and Sabotage) ]