Where does the expression "checkmate" come from?

Question

While watching The Queen's Gambit my partner asked me: why do they say "checkmate"? But she wanted to know what is the origin of this expression, not its meaning. And I realized I didn't actually know. So, what is the origin of the expression "checkmate" and its etymology?

Answer 1

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, checkmate comes from the Middle English chekmaten, which is derived from the Anglo-French eschec mat. And this came from the Persian shāh māt through the Arabic language.

The Persian word shāh means king. (With a definite article, it becomes as-shāh, the king.)

But I found two different interpretations for māt:

• unable to escape (Merriam-Webster)
• dead (Dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy, Treasure of the French Language)

So, as-shāh māt -> checkmate = the king is dead!