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 W 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 letter: Wassailer, Welsh- pieces
New in 2015 under this letter: Wiretaker. Xeretaker, Zeretaker
The acknowledgments, overview, and glossary to the series can be found here.
Pieces
WACAM cubic symmetric 8:6:1 leaper, Macaw for symmetric 10:1 reversed.
WACKY cubic/hex Point+Key, from Wazzock §.
WADCHICK, WADER hex-prism Point+Drumstick, Wazir+Drummer, first as FO version of second, which is ¢.
 | WAFFLE square Wazir+Elephant ¢. |
 | WAFFLON square Wazir+Elephrider ¢. |
 | WAFFLRIDER square Rook+Elephrider ¢. |
WAGGLE pentagonal Crooked Wing alternately turning left and right, but more slightly than the hex Girlhexer, as crooked movement sharing Wing's initial.
WAITER, WAITRESS cubic/hex Wazir capturing as Viceroy, Rook capturing as Unicorn, by analogy to Steward/-ess.
WALL cubic/hex a piece occupying a linear series of cells, often starting along a rank and not always able to rotate out of it.
WALLOON, WALLOONCUB cubic/hex Raccoon+Wazir, Raccooncub+Point ¢.
WALRUS square Point+Tusk, from Waffle §.
WANDYMAN Wandymen square Warmth+Wump, extrapolated from Handyman.
WARD hex-prism FO 5:root 21 leaper, as one perhaps taking in by Fosterer §.
WARDER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Saltire capturing as Cross, in conjunction with the Yeoman for whose orthogonal it substitutes the ND - as in yeoman warders of the Tower of London.
WARDERED piece cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism piece capturing as piece related as Viceroy/Saltire to Ferz/Cross, from previous entry.
WARHEAD Pawnlike piece all one with an optional double-step initial move, restricted to both steps being capturing, from being able tyo get ahead when attacking.
 | WARLADY hex Warrarider+Insperider, feminine of Warlord as long-range move includes Rook's. |
 | WARLOHOPPER hex Warrahopper+Inspehopper. |
 | WARLORD hex Warrant+Inspector, as one who may or may not be literal lord for compound of single-step pieces, starting with letters of Wazir whose move its own includes. |
WARMTH square FO 10:1 leaper, from the warm climate to which the Macaw § is native.
WARMUP hex-prism Warmth+Invigilator ¢.
 | WARPER square Wazir+Tripper ¢. | ||
 | WARRADEMON hex piece making a move of exactly two Warrant steps changing direction only in the usual chevron-rank way on crossing the middle file. | ||
 | WARRADRAGON hex Warrarider+Inspector. | ||
 | WARRAHOPPER hex differs from Warrarider in in requiring exactly one intervening piece for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style). | ||
 | WARRANT hex Wazrranker+Wastrel, from warrant  WARRARIDER hex piece making repeated Warrant steps changing direction only in the usual chevron-rank way on crossing the middle file. | |
WASSAILER hex Wastrrider restricted to moving one or two steps, as another idler like the Wastrel starting with the same two letters as Wazbaba.
 | WASTREL hex on a convex board, inward Pointreservist plus outward Pointrevisionist; on a stelliform board, forward and backward moves reversed, from its weakness as a Wazirfiler analogue |
 | WASTRRIDER hex piece making repeated Wastrel steps changing direction only in the usual chevron-rank way on crossing the middle file. |
WATERER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Viceroy capturing as Dabbaba, extrapolated from Waiter.
WAXWOKER hex symmetric root-79 pure-hex leaper, from bees' use of wax.
WAVERER square Rhino restricted to starting and ending with a Wazir step, in conjunction with Feverer.
WAYFARER cubic 35° Elephant-Zombie alternator, EMD Broadwaymanwise.
 | WAZBABA square/cubic Wazir+Dabbaba, extrapolated from Waffle. |
 | WAZCHICK square/cubic Point+Dabchick, extrapolated from Walrus. |
 | WAZIR all symmetric 1:0 stepper. |
WEASEL hex-prism Dicorn with first and last steps replaced by Wazir ones, in conjunction with the Ferret and Stoat with a refernce to the Wazir step.
 | WEATHERER cubic/hex Viceroy+(usually Stepping) Eunuch+(usually Stepping) Zombie, influenced by Wrestler. |
WEDTUSK hex-prism FO 1:root 31 leaper, in reference to the hex coordinate being a Newlywed/Ring one.
WEEDY hex-prism Gift+Wetrun ¢.
WELSHBOY, WELSHGIRL, WELSHMAN Welshmen, WELSHWOMAN Welshwomen hex-prism Rumchick+Drumstick+Trumstick, Gardener+Welshboy, Rumbaba+Drummer+Trumpeter, Guardian+Welshman, from Wales being known as the "land of song".
WENDIGO hex-prism Unicorn with first and last step replaced by Rumbaba ones, in conjunction with other mythical dogs' names.
WENLYWED hex root-31 Curved linepiece on 6-stage circuit, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Newlywed whose Curved rider it is.
WERE- as unprefixed piece adds Coyote to Jackal, Dingo to Hyena, and Fox to Wolf, extrapolated from Werewolf.
WESTCOAST hex-prism Birth+Wetrun ¢.
WETHER cubic/hex Saltire+(usually Stepping) Key+(usually Stepping) Lurch, from Weatherer §.
WETNURSE, WETRUN hex-prism symmetric and FO 5:root 28 leaper, from having same SOLL as Midwife, in conjunction with Drynurse.
WFEARFUL, WFERZ, WFEZZOCK xyrixa Wferz+Delephant, Ferzranker+Wazirfiler, Wferz+Eunuch, extrapolated from Brook, W stands for Wazbaba in first and Wazzock in last.
WHATNOT xyrixa/hex-prism Prizemouse+Woodmouse ¢.
WHILLENGER cubic/xyrixa Wideplayer capturing as Wiremaster, extrapolated from Challenger.
WHINCHAT cubic Viremaster+Lounger ¢, from "missing" Wi- element in Lo-+Vi- compound.
WHINGER cubic symmetric 7:5:5 leaper, xyrixa dual of symmetric 14:1:1 leaper, from being a Hypotenuse piece of Wideplayer and Wiremaster.
WHISK square Point+Trisk, from Warper §.
WHISTLER hex-prism Drumsrider+Tusk, as one playing or imitating a musical instrument.
WHOSE cubic Navvy+Thulpaca, as English translation of the Duquelle of its EMD.
WICK hex FO root-127 leaper, as attribute of candles made by Chandler §.
WIDEPLAYER cubic symmetric 4:4:1 leaper, xyrixa dual of cubic Loremaster, from sharing SOLL of Longplayer.
WIDGET cubic Width+Inlet ¢.
 | WIDOW all piece making long-range moves in direction of any piece attacking it, rotated for its own player's sense of "forward", extrapolated from Orphan. |
 | WIDOWER all piece making short-range moves in direction of any piece attacking it, rotated for its own player's sense of "forward", extrapolated from Orphan.. |
 | WIELDER hex-prism Cross capturing as Rumchick, extrapolated from Warder. |
 | WILDEBEEST square synonym for Gnu, as animal and piece. |
 | WILFUL cubic/xyrixa/hex=prism Viceroy+Elephant ¢. |
WINDGENERAL, WINDRIDER, WINDRULER hex-prism Prince+Rumchick, Queen+Dilemma, King+Rumchick.
 | WINDMILL square piece whose move comprises a series of Wazir steps alternating between squares orthogonally and diagonally adjoining another piece of any army. |
 | WING square/hex piece moving any distance through empty intermediate cells along forward orthogonal(s), as attribute of both biological Rook § and stately home of its Staunton image, and of its position in sporting terms on the Shogi board. |
 | WINGRESERVIST hex Rook restricted to half-forward orthogonals. |
WINTHRU cubic xyrixa Wideplayer+Wiremaster ¢.
WIRELESS cubic/xyrixa/hex=prism Saltire+Tusk, from Wilful §.
WIREMASTER cubic symmetric 8:1:1 leaper, xyrixa dual of cubic Wideplayer, in conjunction with other imparters of care, wisdom, or religion for even-SOLL cubic leapers.
WIRETAKER cubic/xyrixa Width capturing as Input, extrapolated from Caretaker.
WITAN cubic xyrixa Width+Input ¢.
WITCH square Queen+Gnurider+Zeburider+Gururider+Anurider+Sadhurider+..., in conjunction with Wizard.
WITHDRAWER piece DQR all one moving to an empty cell and capturing an enemy on the cell immediately beyond the start of the move in the opposite direction.
WITTGENSTEIN cubic Wiremaster+Whinger ¢.
WIWAFFLE hex-prism Viwazir+Elephant, adding first letters of Wilful.
WIZARD square Prince+Gnu+Zebu+Guru+Anu+Sadhu+..., in conjunction with Witch.
WNIMEL cubic Nimelranker+Widepfiler, extrapolated from Brook.
WOBBLER, WOBBLERCUB square Bear+Wazir, Bearcub+Point ¢.
WOLF square Rook with first and last steps replaced by Ferz ones.
WOLFCUB, WOLFGENERAL square Wing with first and last steps replaced by Cross ones, Wolf+Foxcub, from previous entry.
WOMAN- all alternator's compound with the Straight piece having the shorter steps or leaps, as an extension of Girl-.
WOMBAT cubic symmetric 7:2:2 leaper, xyrixa dual to the cubic Worrier, especially Numbat for other leaper with SOLL 57.
WOMCLUB cubic 55° Eunuch-Quitter alternator, EMD Wombatwise.
WOODMOUSE xyrixa/hex-prism dual of symmetric 9:2:1 leaper, symmetric 2:root 39 leaper, as a third piece sharing SOLL of Fieldmouse and Prizemouse.
WOODPECKER hex-prism Piker+Dadchick, from the -chick ending.
WORKLOAD hex-prism Warmth+Htmraw ¢.
WORLD- hex-prism adds one-step move in all remaining hex-prism radial directions to any symmetric radial piece, as combination of the environments and natural phenomena.
 | WORLDGENERAL hex-prism Wazir+Ferz+Viceroy+Rumbaba. |
 | WORLDQUEEN hex-prism Rook+Bishop+Viceroy+Rumbaba. |
 | WORLDRIDER hex-prism Rook+Bishop+Unicorn+Dicorn. |
| WORLDRULER hex-prism General+Ferz+Viceroy+Rumbaba. |
WOUWOU cubic xyrixa Wombat+Worrier ¢.
WRAITH hex-prism symmetric 3:root 19 leaper, in conjnuction with Spectre.
WRAPAROUND piece square one able on reaching any edge of the board to continue onto the opposite edge as if it were the next file, rank, or level in the same direction.
WRAPPING cubic/hex-prism Hump+Friar.
WREAKER hex-prism Paker+Dadchick.
WREATH cubic xyrixa/hex-prism Helm+Cloak, as device for holding helmet's crest and mantling in place.
 | WRECKER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Wrestler+Weatherer ¢. |
 | WRESTLER square Ferz+(usually Stepping) Elephant+(usually Stepping) Tripper, from Shogi variants. |
WRITEUP, WUMP square Egg+Fump, FO 11:9 leaper dual to the Warmth, first as activity of Bureaucrat §, second extrapolated from Hump.
WVICBABA cubic Viceroy+Fwazir, extrapolated from Brook.
XANADU cubic cubic/xyrixa Exorcist+Expounder ¢.
XAJA pieces, XAJARIDER pieces square those that can also make capturing moves, short- and long-range respectively, in remaining Princewise directions, from Ajax reversed.
XERETAKER cubic/xyrixa Stake capturing as Tale, extrapolated from Caretaker.
XESTON cubic 2:1:1 Curved linepiece on 6-stage circuit, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Sexton whose Curved rider it is.
XHELLENGER cubic/xyrixa Exorcist capturing as Expounder, extrapolated from Challenger.
 | XIANG square the specifically stepping form of the Elephant, or symmetric 2:2 stepper. |
 | YACHTER cubic/xyrixahex-prism Horn+Mitrecoward, in conjnuction with Boater.. |
YAHOO square Moo with first step restricted to directions indicated on each cell, from Storm the Ivory Tower.
YAWANUR cubic symmetric 8:7:6 leaper, Runaway for symmetric 10:7 reversed.
YELL square symmetric 10:7 leaper, as the sound that a Runaway § might make when fleeing.
 | YEOMAN square Cross capturing as Point, as the next social rank above the peasantry represented by the Pawn, and from Yeomanry regiments. |
ZADZLER hex Badbaba+Mozbie, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Dazzler whose Curved rider it is.
ZAGELLE square Rose+Bezra, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Gazelle whose Curved rider it is.
ZAGZAG, ZAGZIG square Rookranker+rightward Mitre+leftward Mitrecoward, Rookranker+leftward Mitre+rightward Mitrecoward.
 | ZANY square symmetric 10:9 leaper, having run out of "commoners spiritual" with Verger I switch to thinking of the Bishop piece in its French/Greek "fool" sense. |
ZEALOT cubic Zebra+Bandicoot ¢.
ZEBACE, ZEBAN square Zebra+Helm, Zebra+Sump, short for Zebraed Terrace, Zebraed Handyman.
ZEBIN square Zebra+Helm, Zelf+Zenard, extrapolated from Cabin.
ZEBKSMAN square Cannon+Zebra, extrapolated from Marksman.
 | ZEBRA square symmetric 3:2 leaper. |
ZEBRASWELLE square Zebraswitcher+Knight, short for Zebraswitching Gazelle.
ZEBSHAL square Rook+Zebra, extrapolated from Marshal.
 | ZEBU square Zebra+Zemel ¢. |
ZEDDIE, ZEDDIED piece square Cross capturing as Stripe, piece capturing as a piece with 6½ times its noncapturing SOLL, extrapolated from Caddie.
ZEDET hex Zeptain restricted to most forward single move to each side of its file, extrapolated from Cadet.
ZEFILA cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Unicorn+ZEmel, extrapolatred from Cafila.
ZEFTAN hex Zeimakan restricted to most forward single move to each side of its file, extrapolated from Kaftan.
ZEIMAKAN hex on a convex board, outward Accent+Accenrevisionist+Ultraringcoward plus inward: from centre file none, from next file out Ring+Pupilrevisionist+Quichrevisionist+Accencoward, from next file out Ring+Pupilreservist+Superaccencoward, from next file out Ring+Accenreservist+Pupilrevisionist+Accencoward, from next file out Ring+Quichreservist+Pupilreservist+Accencoward, from further out Ultraring+Accenreservist+Accencoward; on a stelliform board, forward and backward moves reversed, extrapolated from Kaimakan.
ZEIQUE cubic Zemel+Exorcist+Featser, extrapolated from Caique.
ZEISSON, ZELASH hex on a Glinski board Oversquarterer+Newlyfiler, Senniranker+Studefiler; on a Wellisch one Aurocranker+Oversquarterer, Studeranker+Sennifiler, extrapolated from Caisson, Calash.
ZELF Zelves square FO 6:4 leaper, extrapolated from Calf.
ZELIG square Querquisite modified by a restriction on how many pieces with each move a player can have on the board, from Zelig Chess.
ZELIPH square Bishop+Zemel, extrapolated from Caliph.
ZEMAD cubic Zemel+Epirts, short for Zemelled Sliproad.
 | ZEMEL square symmetric 5:1 leaper dual to the Zebra, extrapolated from Camel. |
ZEMPION square Zemelrider+Bezra, extrapolated from Campion.
ZENARD square FO 10:2 leaper, extrapolated from Canard.
ZENGAROO square Zebra+Elephant, extrapolatred from Kangaroo.
ZENNIBAL cubic xyrixa/hex-prism Zebra+Zombie, extrapolated from Cannibal.
ZENOE cubic Zebra+Fencer+Lecturer, extrapolated from Canoe.
ZENTERER xyrixa/hex-prism Zebra+Sennight+Student dual to the cubic Zescade, extrapolated from Canterer.
ZENTOR cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Zemel+Eunuch, extrapolated ffrom Cantor.
ZENVASSER square Rook+Zemel, extrapolated from Canvasser.
ZEPARISONNER cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Zebra+Eunuch, extrapolated from Caparisonner.
ZEPERER xyrixa/hex-prism Zemel+Overscore+Newlywed dual to the cubic Zetaract, in conjunction with Caperer.
ZEPSTAN square Zertridge+Zerving, extrapolated from Capstan.
ZEPTAIN hex on a convex board, outward Senhequasar+Ultrapupilcoward plus inward: from centre file none, from next file out Eunucranker+Lurchreservist+Pastshelterer, from next file out Pupil+Pastquarterer+Lurchrevisionist+Senhequarterer, from further out Ultrapupil+Senheshelver; on a stelliform board, forward and backward moves reversed, extrapolated from Captain.
ZERAVEL, GIRBINE square Zerbine+Zetana, differs from Zherolais in requiring an occupied halfway cell for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), extrapolated from Caravel, Carbine.
ZERDINAL, ZEREERIST square Bishop+Zebra, Arrow+Zebra, extrapolated from Cardinal, Careerist.
ZERETAKER square Stripe capturing as Sump, extrapolated from Caretaker.
ZERNATION square Zebrarider+Mezel, extrapolated from Carnation.
ZEROLAIS square 6:4 Curved linepiece on 8-stage circuit, Zherolais, whose Curved rider it is, stripped of second consonant before first vowel.
ZERPENTER square Zebra+Dabbaba, extrapolated from Carpenter.
ZERTRIDGE, ZERVING square differ from Zelf, Zenard in requiring an occupied halfway cell for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), extrapolated from Cartridge and Carving.
ZESCADE cubic Zemel+Fortnight+Nurturer, extrapolated from Cascade.
ZETAMARAN, ZETANA square Zherolais+Zrene, differs from Zrene in requiring an occupied halfway cell for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), extrapolated from Catamaran, Katana.
ZETAPULT square Zebra+Trebuchet, extrapolated from Catapult.
ZETOID cubic Zemel+Bandicoot ¢.
ZEVALCADE cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Unicorn+Zebra, extrapolated from Cavalcade.
ZHELLENGER square Zebra capturing as Zemel, extrapolated from Challenger.
ZHEMOIS square symmetric 9:6 leaper, extrapolated from Chamois.
ZHEPERONE square Zebra+Tripper, extrapolatred from Chaperone.
ZHEROLAIS square symmetric 6:4 leaper, extrapolated from Charolais.
ZIGZAG, ZIGZIG square Rookfiler+rightward Mitre+leftward Mitrecoward, Rookfiler+leftward Mitre+rightward Mitrecoward.
ZITHER square FO 10:3 leaper, another plucked stringed instrument like the lyre that is the first half of Lyrebird §, with a previously unused initial.
ZOETROPE square symmetric 12:5 leaper, from its leap length being firstly an integer, like the Antelope's, and secondly the square of the Zebra's.
ZOKOR xyrixa dual of symmetric 11:2:1 leaper, in conjunction with other rodent names.
ZOMBIE cubic/hex symmetric 3:3:3 or pure-hex root-27 leaper, as a stage weaker than the 2:2:2 or pure-hex root-12 Eunuch.
ZOOKEEPER cubic/hex Eunuch+Zombie ¢.
ZOTREBUCHET hex-prism Treburanker+Zombifiler if hex-ranked, Trebuleveller+Zombicolumner if hex-level, extrapolated from Unrook.
ZREB, ZREM square Stripe+Striprevisionist, Sump+Sumprevisionist, extrapolated from Crab, Cram.
ZRENE square symmetric 10:2 leaper, extrapolated from Crane.
This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.
By Charles Gilman.
Web page created: 2011-12-24. Web page last updated: 2012-01-22