Check (chĕk), n. [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess, through Ar., fr. Pers. shāh king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.] 1. (Chess) A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.
2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.
Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity.
Addison.
No check, no stay, this streamlet fears.
Wordsworth.
3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff.
Useful check upon the administration of government.
Washington.
A man whom no check could abash.
Macaulay.
4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad.
5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below.
6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.
7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
8. Small chick or crack.
Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. — Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. — Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped. — Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked. — Check nut(Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it. Knight. — Check valve(Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler to prevent the return of the feed water. — To take check, to take offense. Dryden.
Syn. — Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.