English → Latin
“chess” in Latin
latrunculushighwayman, robber.; a man in the Ancient Roman boardgame of ludus latrunculorum, extended to pieces in other games suchlatrōmercenary; highwayman; brigand, bandit; robber; chessman, pawn
The English word chess itself goes back to Latin scaccus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
chess
lusus latrunculorum: lusus latruncularius (a game of the ancients, resembling chess or draughts). To play at chess, latrunculis ludcre (poctical, proelia latronum ludere). Chess-board, tabula latruncularia (*Sen., Ep., 117, 30). Chessmen, latrunculi: latrones.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for chess?
- The usual Latin words for “chess” are latrunculus, latrō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.