Definition of checkered

The word "checkered" has a fascinating history! The term originally referred to a fabric with a repeated pattern of squares, typically in alternating colors, often red and white. This type of fabric was used to make clothing, particularly for servants and working-class people, as it was durable and easy to clean. The word "checkered" comes from the Old French "eschekier," which means "to chequer" or "to mark with squares." This Old French term is derived from the Latin "scaccare," meaning "to scan" or "to count," likely due to the fabric's use of squares to create a checkered pattern. Today, the word "checkered" is used to describe not only the fabric but also a person's life, referring to a pattern of alternating successes and failures, or a situation with multiple twists and turns, like the threads on a checkered cloth.