The board on which chess is played.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 133. Of the chesse borde how it is maad.
1562. J. Rowbotham, Chess, A viij b. Beholde here the forme of the Checker or Cheastbourde.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 248. An Oracle of Hercules, constituted by a Chest-board.
1656. Beale, Chess-Play, 2.
1718. Prior, Alma, III. 488. Cards are dealt, and chess-boards brought.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., IV. ii. 193. Earth her chess-board, and the men and women on it, merely pawns.
b. attrib.
1642. Howell, For. Trav., xiv. (Arb.), 65. Sevill is like a chesse-bord table, having as many Moriscos as Spaniards.
