an inspection, test, or verification
a standard or criterion for testing and evaluation
a sudden pause or stoppage in the forward progress of something
somebody or something that arrests or restrains; a restraint
(often used as an interj) in chess, exposure of a king to an attack from which it must be protected or moved to safety
in check
a pattern of squares, usu of alternating colours, or a square in such a pattern
a fabric woven or printed with such a design
a crack or break, esp in a piece of timber
NAmer see cheque
chiefly NAmer a ticket or token showing ownership or indicating payment made
a luggage check
NAmer a counter in various games
NAmer a bill, esp for food and drink in a restaurant
NAmer = tick1 (1)
in check
under restraint or control
Middle English chek from Old French eschec, via Arabic from Persian shāh king. The word was first used in chess as a warning that the king was under threat; this led to the sense ‘stoppage’, ‘restraint’ (as no piece could move except to protect the king), leading in turn to the idea of an inspection or verification as something causing delay; (sense 6) Middle English chek, short for cheker chequer (via Old French eschequier to play chess, from eschec) comes from the squared pattern of a chessboard