mat
checkmate (chess)
noun MAHT Rare
Origin: Persian 'shah mat' (the king is dead)
Also means
mast (nautical)
Usage Note
mat in chess is the decisive end of the game — faire mat or mettre en mat means 'to checkmate.' As an adjective it also means 'dull, matte' (as in a non-shiny surface). These two uses are unrelated in etymology.
Examples
"Il a dit 'mat' après le dernier mouvement."
Natural Translation
He said 'checkmate' after the last move.
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