ETYM French échec et mat, from Per. shâh mât ceckmate, lit., the king is dead, from Arabic mâta he died, is dead. The king, when made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is finished. Related to Chess.
1. A move constituting an inescapable and indefensible attack on the opponent's king.
2. Victory in a game of chess.
Checkmate.