checkpoint
UK[ˈtʃekpɔɪnt]US[ˈtʃekpɔɪnt]
n
A place, especially on a border or at a road, where people and vehicles are stopped and examined.
n
A position or time at which a check is made, especially in computing or during a process.
Morpheme Breakdown
check
point
check
to examine
point
a specific place
Etymology
The word 'checkpoint' is a modern English compound, formed by combining the noun 'check', in its sense of 'an inspection or verification', with the noun 'point', meaning 'a specific location or stage'. The term emerged in the early 20th century, primarily in military and security contexts, to denote a place where passage is controlled and individuals or goods are inspected. The logic is transparent: it is a point (location) where a check (examination) occurs. This concrete meaning later extended metaphorically into computing and project management to signify a stage where progress or data integrity is verified.
Analysis
Structure: check (to examine) + point (a specific place)
- check: From Middle English chek, chekke, via Old French eschec from Persian shāh (king). In this compound, it carries the sense of 'to examine or verify'.
- point: From Old French point, from Latin punctum (a small hole, a point), from pungere (to prick). In this compound, it signifies a specific place or stage.
Examples
The soldiers set up a checkpoint on the main road into the city.
The software creates a system restore checkpoint before installing the update.
Reaching the halfway mark was an important checkpoint in their fundraising campaign.