chequer
/ˈtʃɛkə
/(US checker)
noun
1 (chequers) A pattern of squares, typically alternately coloured: a geometric shape bordered by chequers (as modifier chequer) a chequer design...
- It's a lovely red chequer pattern - is that flannel?
- Over the chancel arch is a fresco chequer pattern, probably C12.
2 (checkers) [treated as singular] North American The game of draughts.The place was full of stuff, mainly books, puzzles, and hundreds of different boxed games; chess, backgammon, checkers, and ones I'd never seen before....
- Play a game together, like checkers or backgammon
- For hours they have been playing all sorts of odd and interesting games, but for now it was Bougsbie, which is a similar board game to checkers.
2.1 (checker) A piece used in the game of draughts.Josiah chuckled as he watched her move her first checker piece.
verb [with object]
Divide into or mark with an arrangement of squares of different colour or character: a great plain chequered with corn and green mosses...
- After checkering the main spring housing at 25 lpi, it was fit and blended into the frame with the bottom corner radiused.
- Fresh and fizzing with a dehumanised, holographic energy, eclectic collaborations chequer the album.
- The squares of sunlight that checkered our path were coldly white.
Origin
Middle English: from exchequer. The original sense 'chessboard' gave rise to chequered meaning 'marked like a chessboard'; hence sense 1 of the noun (early 16th century).