شاه مات

Chess originated in India as chaturāṅga ("four limbs" of an army). When it reached Persia, the key piece—the king—became the shāh. Ending the game was shāh māt: "the king is helpless" (or "the king is dead").

Arab players inherited the game and the phrase after conquering Persia. They carried chess across North Africa and into Spain. The phrase traveled with every chess set.

In medieval French, shāh māt became échec et mat. The first word also gave English "check" (a threat to the king) and "chess" itself (from échecs). One Persian word—shāh—generated three English words.

The debate about māt continues: does it mean "dead" (from Arabic māta, "died") or "helpless" (from Persian māt, "left without resource")? The king's fate depends on whose language you trust.