DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed on this page are the creative work of its author, Charles Gilman, and they might not be shared by others responsible for this website. They do not represent any convention, consensus, or standard regarding piece names.
Index C 1 to Man and Beast
Each entry starts with the name or prefix in capitals, linked to the Piececlopedia page if an established piece, followed by the plural in plain text if irregular. Then comes the geometry, with a link to the Man and Beast page - square also covers cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism, all covers those plus 2d hex and 2d/3d pentagonal ones, and hex covers xyrixa/hex-prism. Then comes the definition in plain text. The name's origin, if more than random and neither a Piececlopedia piece nor obvious, is in italics. Compounds of two oblique leapers always have one of a set of endings designed to avoid duplicate names for mixed-range and part-symmetric versions. Unless specified as royally-restricted a piece is capturable. The phrase "capturing as" means exclusively unless prefixed with "also". When a move can be "repeated" it means without capturing on any but the last instance. DQR stands for Defaulting to Queen (square) or Rook (hex). Names combining component names are marked ¢. FO pieces' symmetric counterparts are marked §.
New in 2016 under this combination of letters: Cenobite, Chase
New in 2015 under this letter: Caretaker, Chaf-, Chaffinch
The acknowledgments, overview, and glossary to the series can be found here.
Pieces
CAADOFHERD hex-prism Calibrator+Elephant, extrapolated from Headofherd.
CABIN square Calf+Canard, attribute of ship such as Catamaran §.
CABOOSE, CABRIOLET square Rook+Crane, Rook+Charolais, alluding to Rook as Chariot.
CADDIE, CADDIED piece square Cross capturing a Helm, piece capturing as a piece with 2½ times its noncapturing SOLL, a menial rôle in Golf.
 | CADET hex Captain restricted to most forward single move to each side of its file, a very junior military man. |
 | CAFILA cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Unicorn+Camel, a traditional caravan of camels. |
CAIQUE cubic Camel+Elf+Underscore, another kind of boat like Canoe.
CAISSON, CALASH hex on a Glinski board Senniquarterer+Aurocfiler, Vicerranker+Sennifiler; on a Wellisch one Aurocranker+Senniquarterer, Senniranker+Vicerfiler, as horse-drawn vehicles for Knight and Camel analogues.
CALCHAS hex-prism Dicorn+Tybalt, in conjunction with other Shakespearean names.
CALDERA cubic Cascade+Cataract, a volcanic crater and so a powerful natural force.
 | CALF Calves square FO 4:2 leaper, young of what Charolais § is. |
 | CALIPH square Bishop+Camel. |
 | CALIPLANDER square Camel+Ferz. |
CALTRAP square symmetric 8:4 leaper, device for hindering horses.
CALVINIST square Bishop+Charolais, from a Christian movement.
CAMACE, CAMAL square Camel+Stripe, Camel+Blotch, short for Camelled Terrace/Aerial.
 | CAMAN square Camel+Stripe, Camel+Blotch, Camel+Helm, short for Camelled Terrace/Aerial/Handyman. | |
 | CAMEL square symmetric 3:1 leaper. |
 | CANETOAD square Camel+Trebuchet an amphibian name for the unbound compound of non-coprime and differently-bound pieces. |
 | CANNON square/hex differs from Rook in requiring exactly one intervening piece for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style). |
 | CANNONADE cubic/hex Cannon+Sling, as coordinated firing of cannons. |
 | CANNONBALL square/hex differs from Wing in requiring exactly one intervening piece for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), as what is fired forward from Cannon §. |
 | CANOE cubic Knight+Sexton+Ninja, inspired by Ken Franklin's image for the Alibaba, which also moves to the second perimeter. |
CANTERER xyrixa/hex-prism Knight+Viceroy+Sennight dual to the cubic Cascade, in reference to the movement of the rectilinear component.
CANTOR cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Camel+Eunuch, from the use of eunuchs in singing.
 | CANVALANDER square Camel+Wazir. |
 | CANVASSER square Rook+Camel. |
 | CAPARISONNER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Knight+Eunuch, from the caparisonning of knights' horses. |
CAPPADOCIAN cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Sling+Camel, in conjunction with other ancient nationalities of the region for such Sling compounds.
CAPSTAN square Cartridge+Carving, winch sometimes found on ships - though not necessarily Caravel §.
 | CAPTAIN hex on a convex board, outward Supersaltire+Ultrasenhecoward plus inward: from centre file none, from next file out Senhelm+Salticoward+Dabbafiler, from further out, Ultrasenhelm+Supersalticoward; on a stelliform board, forward and backward moves reversed, as a military title above non-commisioned ad warrant officers. |
CAPYBARA square Quibbler+Zemel+Satyr+Gimel+Rector+Quitter, by analogy with Squirrel.
CARALD hex-prism Unicorn+Calibrator, extrapolated from Herald.
CARAVEL square Carbine+Katana, as another ship in conjunction with Catamaran and Gunboat.
CARBALEST xyrixa Carrow+Sling, adding initial of Cannonade.
CARBINE square differs from Charolais in requiring an occupied halfway cell for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), as a kind of gun by analogy with Cannon.
CARCOON hex 60° Curved Raccoon, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Raccoon.
 | CARDILANDER square Knight+Ferz. |
 | CARDINAL square Bishop+Knight. |
 | CARDIRIDER square Bishop+Nightrider. |
 | CARDIRUNNER square Mitre+Helm. |
 | CAREERIST square Arrow+Knight, as a short-term conscript who them volunteers for a military career, and punning on Carrera who used the first under another name. |
CARETAKER square Helm capturing as Hump, as an oblique Pawnlike piece.
CARIAN cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Sling+Knight, in conjunction with other ancient nationalities of the region for such Sling compounds.
 | CARIBOU square Camel+Elephant, following the beast+beast=beast pattern. |
CARNATION square Nightrider+Macel, as a flower starting with Ca-.
CAROLAIS square 4:2 Curved linepiece on 8-stage circuit, Charolais, whose Curved rider it is, stripped of second consonant before first vowel.
CARON, CAROUSER hex-prism Calibrator+Dabbaba, Dicorn+Camel, first extrapolated from Heron, second in conjunction with other food-related names.
CARPEDIEM square Nightrider+Pocket, as a Latin motto meaning "seize the day", which as it starts with the first 5 letters of Carpenter is a suitable name for an extended Carpenter for exatrpolations to other compounds of coprime oblique, and non-coprime radial, leapers.
 | CARPENTER square Knight+Dabbaba. |
CARTRIDGE, CARVING square differ from Calf, Canard in requiring an occupied halfway cell for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), extrapolated from Carbine and Katana §.
 | CARYATID square Wing+Cross, as column in form of female figure,. |
 | CASBAH square Camel+Dabbaba ¢. |
CASELOAD hex-prism Graft+Chromosome.
CASHIER square Cannon+Camel, as one involved in "firing" employees or even "gunning for" redundancies, and a verb referring to military dismissal.
CASSOWARY square symmetric 9:3 leaper, as a bird among such coprime pieces as the 8:1 Bittern, 9:2 Albatross, 10:1 Macaw, 10:3 Lyrebird, and 11:2 Quail.
CASTLING square a special move in which a King or other royally-restricted piece moves in conjunction with a Rook along a route of that Rook toward and past each other. Usual requirements include all intervening cells being empty and none of the royal piece's path in Check.
CATAMARAN square Charolais+Crane, inspired by Ken Franklin's image for the Alibaba, which like it is a non-coprime triangulator.
 | CATAPULT square Knight+Trebuchet, as a trebuchet-like weapon. |
CATCHPOLE square symmetric 12:4 leaper, which originally meant a catcher of birds.
 | CATERER, CATHAR hex-prism Dicorn+Knight, Knight+Drummer, in conjunction, first with other food-related names, second with other religious groups "marching to a different drum" for Drummer compounds. |
 | CAVALCADE cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Unicorn+Knight, as a parade of horses, alluding to the horsy qualities of both components. |
CEDILLA cubic FO 3:1:1 leaper, hex-prism FO 4:root 3 leaper, as something under a letter as lesser than Underscore.
CELEBRANT cubic Bishop with first step replaced by a Viceroy one, making it colourswitching rather than colourbound, as a generalisation of the clergy to modern religions.
CELESTE cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Duchess+Elephant, as the consort of Babar the Elephant.
CELLIST, CENTAD hex-prism Cockerel+Tellam, Accent+Hyphen.
CENOBITE cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Celebrant capturing as Nag ¢.
CERBERUS hex-prism Bishop with first and last step replaced by Rumbaba ones, in conjunction with other mythical dogs' names.
CERTOR square 5:4 Curved linepiece on 8-stage circuit, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Rector whose Curved rider it is.
CERUET pieces hex those that can also make capturing Curved moves in remaining Dukewise directions, reversing the first three letters of Recuet.
CHAF- hex-prism of a Curved hex piece, its compound with the Corkscrew piece differing in moving by one hex plane per step, from the next entry.
CHAFFINCH hex-prism Finch+Boysextuplet, as a particular species of finch whose prefix has no prior meaning in Chess pieces.
CHAINMAIL square symmetric 10:5 leaper, as something that weighed warriors down, begins with the confining Chain, and ends like the 11:2 Quail sharing its SOLL.
CHAIRMAN Chairmen, CHAIRWOMAN Chairwomen hex-prism Dilemma+Saltire, Viscountess+Saltire, as generalisations of the Mayor, -ess §.
CHALICOTHERE hex-prism 60° Wazir-Rumbaba alternator, EMD Foalwise.
CHALLENGER square Knight capturing as Camel, as an oblique Stewardlike piece.
 | CHAMBERLAIN hex-prism Dilemma+Wazir, as an arbitrary authority figure. |
CHAMOIS square symmetric 6:3 leaper, as another ungulate to go next after Charolais.
CHANCE xyrixa dual to the cubic Rant, as taken by Opportunist §.
CHANCELLOR square second most popular name for the Marshal, and alluded to in my River+University+Cathedral variants.
CHANDLER hex symmetric root-127 leaper, as a maker of candles, possibly wax ones.
CHANGELING cubic Disguise+Rant.
 | CHAPERONE square Knight+Tripper, as a gallant companion ofa trip |
 | CHAROLAIS square symmetric 4:2 leaper, primarily as a cattle breed, although there is also a sheep one. |
 | CHATELAINE square Rook+Ferz, as generic lady of a stately home. |
CHEAT cubic Chipmunk+Hogger.
CHEF hex-prism Bishop capturing as Dicorn, as long-range version of Cook.
| CHINESE NAMES | Here is an alphabetic list of Chinese names for Xiang Qi and Yang Qi pieces, followed by literal translations in brackets and then the Man and Beast name. | Here is an alphabetic list of English translations, followed by the Chinese name in brackets and then the Man and Beast name. |
| Bing (soldier) Pawn (YQ), Point (XQ) - red only Jiang (general) General - black only Ju (chariot) Rook Ma (horse) Knight (YQ), Mao (XQ) Pao (cannon) Cannon Sheng (sage) Bishop Shi (adviser/counsellor/mandarin) Ferz Shi (arrow/vow) Arrow Shuai (commander) General - red only Xiang (elephant) Elephant - black only Xiang (minister) Elephant - red only Zu (soldier) Pawn (YQ), Point (XQ) - black only | Adviser (shi) Ferz Arrow (shi) Arrow Cannon (pao) Cannon Chariot (ju) Rook Commander (shuai) General - red only Counsellor (shi) Ferz Elephant (xiang) Elephant - black only General (jiang) General - black only Mandarin (shi) Ferz Horse (ma) Knight (YQ), Mao (XQ) Minister (xiang) Elephant - red only Sage (sheng) Bishop Soldier (bing/zu) Pawn (YQ), Point (XQ) Vow (shi) Arrow |
CHINUP cubic Chipfryer+Greed.
CHIPFRYER, CHIPMUNK, CHIPPAN cubic FO and symmetric 5:4:2 leapers, Chipfryer+Grasp, xyrixa duals to the cubic Grasp and Clinger, Chipfryer+Grasp, all punning on the Friar and Monk of which they have 1½ the SOLL, second in conjunction with other rodent names.
CHOPPINESS cubic Clinger+Hogger.
CHORE, CHOUGH xyrixa/hex-prism duals to the cubic Droop and Jaw, FO 4:root 39 and 5:root 12 leapers, first as attribute of Drudge §, second as smaller bird starting with same letters as Cormorant §.
CHROMOSOME cubic FO 6:3:1 leaper, hex-prism FO 3:root 37 leaper, as attribute of Genome §.
CHURCHGOER cubic Rhino+Navvy, EMD Churchwardenwise.
 | CHURCHWARDEN cubic xyrixa Knight+Sexton, as one who might have power over a sexton. |
CIRCE piece all one which moves a piece that it Hops to the starting cell, if vacant, of that piece's type and army of the same: Bishop binding in the case of Bishop/Knight/Rook; file in the case of Pawn; as the Hop takes place. If the square is occupied the Hopped piece is captured.
CIRCUM- all moves can be indefinitely repeated, the non-coprime radial move in the same direction including half-repeats, and the oblique move on a Curved path.
CIRCUSACT cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Dybburider+Elephant, as an elephant "riding" a demon, i.e., in torment.
CISEAU cubic Chipmunk+Clinger ¢.
CIVBABA, CIVTOR hex Rabbi+Badbaba, Rabbi+Mozbie, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Vicbaba and Victor whose Curved rider they are.
CLAMUP hex-prism Cloak+Recap.
CLANSMAN cubic xyrixa Cloak+Lesson ¢, and alluding as someone sharing a surname to Lefanu § being a surname.
CLASHER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Poker+Antler, from male deer clashing their antlers over females.
CLAUDIUS hex-prism Dicorn+Iago, in conjunction with other Shakespearean names.
CLEARER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Duchess+Mechanic, in conjunction with other agent nouns.
CLEOPATRA hex-prism Rook+Juliet, in conjunction with other Shakespearean names.
CLERK hex-prism Thief+Drumstick, as underling to Alderman §.
CLINGER cubic symmetric 7:5:4 leaper, xyrixa dual to the cubic Chipmunk, as weak piece with twice the Chipmunk's SOLL.
CLOAK cubic FO 3:1:1 leaper, xyrixa/hex-prism dual to the cubic Lesson, FO 2:root 7 leaper, from the cloaks made in Lord of the Rings by Elves §.
CLOCK- square (wraparound) restricted to moving in the unprefixes piece's most clockwise direction(s), from Clockwazir, punning on Wazirs being wise.
CLOCKER hex Qualpaca+Okapi ¢.
CLODHOPPER square Tank restricted to directions indicated on each cell, from Storm the Ivory Tower.
CLOSET hex Qualpaca+Springbok ¢.
CLOUD- hex-prism adds Viscount move to symmetric ND pieces, adds Saltire moves to Viscountwise pieces, and makes ND component of Dissenterwise pieces symmetric, in conjunction with names of other environments and natural phenomena.
CLOUDGENERAL, CLOUDRIDER hex-prism Viceroy+Viscount, Unicorn+Viscountess.
CLOUT cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Mitre+Pandacub, as -N to -T switch on Clown §.
 | CLOWN cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Bishop+Panda, combining the Bishop piece as Fool with a character alongside Harlequin after whom Panda+Bear is named. |
CMUTILATOR xyrixa Rbishop+Eunuch, adding initials of Concubinee.
CO...has so many pieces starting with it that it has its own page here.
 | CRAB square Helm+Helmrevisionist. |
CRAM square Hump+Humprevisionist, by analogy to Crab.
CRANE square symmetric 6:2 leaper, as another bird among Flamingo and Stork.
CRESSIDA hex-prism Dicorn+Juliet, in conjunction with other Shakespearean names.
CREST cubic xyrixa/hex-prism Helm+Disguise.
CREVICE square FO 9:8 leaper, from church architecture in allusion to Verger §.
CRINET, CRINOLINE square Wing+Raccooncub, Rook+Raccoon, former as -N to -T switch on latter, which feminises Pantaloon after whom/which Panda+Raccoon is named.
CRITIC cubic/xyrixa Chromosome+Regular ¢.
CRONE cubic symmetric 16:6:2 leaper, extrapolated from Crane.
CRONY cubic Cloak+Width ¢.
CROOKED piece any one making repeated turns by the same angle in alternating directions.
 | CROSS square FO 1:1 stepper, from pattern made of potential moves on cubic board as viewed by either of two face-to-face players. |
CSIMURGH cubic Simurranker+Celebfiler ¢.
CUBBABA, CUBCHICK hex-prism symmetric/FO 5:root 39 leaper, from leap length being 8, cube of that of the Dabbaba/Dabchick/Rumbaba/Rumchick.
CUBBED long-range piece, all piece capturing as piece related as Panda to Rook, from Pandacub, Bearcub, and Raccooncub.
CUBIRREL cubic Knight+Ninja+Sexton+Dabbaba+Elephant+Eunuch, as cubic counterpart to Squirrel..
CUCKOO hex-prism Packpocket+Drumstick, as previously-unused bird name.
CUMEL square symmetric 13:1 leaper dual to the Curate, extrapolated from Camel.
CURAD square Curate+Float, short for Curated Maenad.
 | CURATE square symmetric 7:6 leaper with the 7 specifically orthogonal, in conjunction with other church titles below Bishop for n+1:n leapers. |
CURVED piece any one making repeated turns in the same direction, not necessarily by the same angle.
CUTLER hex-prism FO 5:root 19 leaper, from reversed early letters of Tucotuco §.
CUTTER hex a rotatable Glinski Rookranker, from Stations.
| CYCLOPS cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Unicorn+Dabbaba, among other mythical monsters for such Unicorn compounds. |
CYLLARUS hex-prism FO 5:root 21 leaper, as male partner of female Centaur Hylonome §.
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By Charles Gilman.
Web page created: 2011-02-06. Web page last updated: 2011-07-30