Chess (?), n. [OE. ches, F. 'echecs, prop. pl. of 'echec check. See 1st Check.]
A game played on a chessboard, by two persons, with two differently colored sets of men, sixteen in each set. Each player has a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two castles or rooks, and eight pawns.
© Webster 1913.
Chess, n. Bot.
A species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) which is a troublesome weed in wheat flelds, and is often erroneously regarded as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears a very slight resemblance to oats, and if reaped and ground up with wheat, so as to be used for food, is said to produce narcotic effects; -- called also cheat and Willard's bromus.
[U. S.]
⇒ Other species of brome grass are called upright chess, soft chess, etc.
© Webster 1913.