checklist
Meaning
A list of items, tasks, or points to be checked or referred to, used as a reminder or to ensure completeness.
Structure
Usage
The pilot ran through the pre-flight checklist before takeoff.
Please use the provided checklist to ensure you have packed all the necessary equipment.
A good safety checklist can help prevent accidents in the workplace.
Etymology
The word 'checklist' is a modern English compound, formed by combining the verb 'check' and the noun 'list'. 'Check' entered English via chess terminology from Old French, tracing back to the Persian word for 'king' (shāh), which evolved to signify control or verification. 'List' originates from Old English, referring to a strip or border, which semantically broadened to mean a catalog or roll. The fusion of these two elements in the 20th century created a term that logically denotes a tool—a catalog or series—specifically designed for the purpose of systematic verification.
Analysis
- check: From Old French eschequier (to check at chess), ultimately from Persian shāh (king). Functional role: Verb root indicating the action of verifying or inspecting. - list: From Old English līste (border, strip, list). Functional role: Noun root indicating a series or catalog.