Check out Janggi (Korean Chess), our featured variant for December, 2024.

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 S 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: Scots- pieces, Simperer
New in 2015 under this combination of letters: Scullion, Sheriff

The acknowledgments, overview, and glossary to the series can be found here.

Pieces

Previous page

SAADOFHERD hex-prism Sabbaba+Elephant, extrapolated from Headofherd.
SABBABA, SABCHICK, SABKEY hex-prism symmetric/FO 3:root 7 leaper, FO 3:root 39 leaper, first two from having twice Dabbaba's/Dabchick's leap length in a direction with a Sennight hex coordinate, third by analogy as having twice Key's leap length.
SABOTEUR square Dabbarider+Elephant, from image of an elephant lading on, and crushing, a war engine.
SABRETOOTH square Rankwitch+Colourtiger, problematist usage.
SABTUSK hex-prism FO 5:root 7 leaper, by analogy to Sabbaba, Sabchick as having twice Tusk's leap length.
SACRIFICER hex-prism Bishop+Drummer, in conjunction with Soothsayer and Sorcer-ess/-or.
SADDOCK square Sump+Stripcoward, extrapolated from Haddock.
SADHU square Satyr+Samel ¢.
SAFTER, SAFTING hex-prism symmetric and FO 6:root 28 leaper, extrapolated from Hefter, Hefting.
SAHIB square Elephant+Cross, as a member of the colonial class in an empire bringing Christianity to a land of elephants.
SAINT square Bishop+Cannon, punning on cannon and canonised.
SAJJ square Zemel+Zoetrope, extrapolated from Hajj.
SAKE square Sump+Striprevisionist, extrapolated from Hake.
SALASH hex on a Glinski board Studequarterer+Barnofiler; on a Wellisch one Barnoranker+Studequarterer, extrapolated from Calash.
SALIBUT square Sumpreservist+Striprevisionist, extrapolated from Halibut.
SALTIRE 3d/hex piece moving one step through empty intermediate cells along forward nonstandard diagonals, from pattern made of potential move on cubic board as viewed by either of two face-to-face players.
SALUTER cubic/hex Saltire+Lurch, from Saltire and -switcher.
SALVAGE cubic Shovel+Lesson ¢.
SAM- square/hex restricts a double-bent piece to making both turns in the same direction and so having radial-piece destinations.
SAMAN square Samel+Vine, short for Samelled Vandyman.
SAMARITAN cubic Knight capturing as Ninja, as a byword for one willing to help strangers, with the same first three letters as Samurai.
SAMEL square symmetric 7:3 leaper dual to the Satyr, extrapolated from Camel.
SAMIZDAT cubic/hex-prism Rytas+Samel ¢.
SAMURAI cubic xyrixa/hex-prism Knight+Ninja, as a higher rank of Japanese warrior than a ninja.
SAND- hex-prism adds Bellboy move to symmetric orthogonal pieces, adds Wazir moves to Bellboywise pieces, and makes orthogonal component of Dissenterwise pieces symmetric, in conjunction with names of other environments and natural phenomena.
SANDGENERAL hex-prism Wazir+Bellboy.
SANDLER hex-prism Spectre+Scullion, extrapolated from Handler.
SANDRIDER, SANDRULER hex-prism Rook+Trilemma, General+Bellboy.
SANDYMAN Sandymen square Stripe+Sump, extrapolated from Handyman, and a Tolkien character to boot.
SANOE cubic Satyr+Longplayer+Expounder, extrapolated from Canoe.
SANTERER xyrixa/hex-prism Satyr+Student+Barnowl dual to the cubic Sascade, extrapolated from Canterer.
SAPPHIRE hex Warrant+Investigator, in conjunction with Amethyst and Emerald.
SARALD hex-prism Unicorn+Sabbaba, extrapolated from Herald.
SARBINGER cubic Unicorn+Sanoe, extrapolated from Harbinger.
SARDNESS, SARDSHIP square FO 17:7 leaper, Sump+Saste, extrapolated from Hardness, Hardship.
SARMIT, SARO, SAROINE, SARON hex-prism Sabbaba+Eunuch, Bishop+Sabbaba, Rook+Sabbaba, Sabbaba+Dabbaba, extrapolated from Hermit, Hero, Heroine, Heron.
SARRIDAN cubic Queen+Zenoe, extrapolated from Harridan.
SARTEBEEST square Zemelranker+Zebrafiler, extrapolated from Hartebeest.
SASTE square FO 12:5 leaper, extrapolated from Haste.
SATAN square Satyr+Vump, short for Satyred Vandyman.
SATRAP square Steward+Steamer ¢, and also because to Steward as Pasha to Prince .
SATYR square symmetric 5:2 leaper, punning SOLL 29 being number of whole Earth years in Saturnian year.
SAVIOR cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Bishop+Cannonade, as one even holier than Saint.
SAWER, SAWING hex-prism differ from Safter, Safting in requiring exactly one intervening piece for capturing moves (in the Chinese style) or all moves (in the Korean style), extrapokated from Hewer, Hewing.
SAYMAKER hex-prism Offscore+Vampire, extrapolated from Haymaker.
SBLESSING xyrixa Carrow+Sling, adding initial of Starling.
SBRASS cubic Fwazir+Viceroy, adding initial of Steel.
SCATTERBRAIN square Pitcher restricted to directions indicated on each cell, by analogy to Ninny and Numskull.
SCEPTIC xyrixa/hex-prism dual of symmetric 9:4:1 leaper, symmetric 1:root 48 leaper, as one doubting symbols such as the Heptagram.
SCIENTIST cubic Theorist+Technician, from Gavin Smith's Prince.
SCORPION as Falcon-style piece square 45° Wazir-Ferz 4-stepper, from this game.
SCOTSHBOY, SCOTSGIRL, SCOTSMAN Scotsmen, SCOTSWOMAN Scotswomen hex-prism Wether+Welshboy, Gardener+Wether+Welshboy, Weatherer+Welshman, Guardian+Weatherer+Welshman, adding corresponding pieces in Unicorn directions to Welsh- pieces.
SCOUTGENERAL as Falcon-style piece square Girlscout+FO Boyscout on face-to-face orientation, Boyscout+FO Girlscout on corner orientation.
SCROOGE cubic/hex Pocket+Packet, in conjunction with Fagin.
SCULLION hex-prism symmetric 1:root 75 leaper, as a servant name for a weak piece punning on the Skeleton that is the pure-hex root-75 leaper.
SCRYER square symmetric 11:6 leaper, as one seen as marginal in today's society for a weak piece.
SCYTHIAN cubic xyrixa Quirk+Sleep ¢.
SEA- 3d/hex adds Point move to Baronwise pieces, adds Baron moves to FO orthogonal pieces, and makes SD and ND components of Conquerorwise pieces symmetric, something affected by Lunar tides to the non-landward side of the coast.
SEAGENERAL, SEARIDER 3d/hex Baron+Point, Governor+Wing.
SEADMAN Beadmen square Saste+Sardness, extrapolated from Headman.
SEASEHOLDER hex Rook+Sennight, extrapolated from Leaseholder.
SECHWE xyrixa/hex-prism Sennight+Elephant, extrapolated from Lechwe.
SECTARIAN hex-prism Seed+Chromosome ¢.
SEDAN cubic/hex Eunucrider+Dabbaba, as a vehicle carried by servants.
SEDATIVE hex Sennight+Overscore ¢.
SEDITIOUS xyrixa Sennight+Votary ¢.
SEECILIAN cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Zombie, extrapolated from Caecilian.
SEFILA cubic/xyrixa Unicorn+Sexton, extrapolated from Cafila.
SEGENDIST, SEGIONARY, SEIOPELMA hex Sennight+Eunuch, Sennight+Dabbaba, Sennight+Trebuchet, extrapolated from Legendist, Legionary, Leiopelma.
SELBY square Settler+Setter, extrapolated from Sett(l)er and Trilby.
SELEUCID cubic/xyrixa Sustainer+Numbat ¢.
SELFIE square Setchick+Setsk extrapolated from Sett(l)er and Thief.
SELICOPTER square Zebra+Zemel+Zoetrope+Zomel, extrapolated from Helicopter.
SELIPH cubic/xyrixa Bishop+Sexton, extrapolated from Caliph.
SEMMING hex symmetric root-28 pure-hex leaper, extrapolated from Lemming.
SEMINARY cubic/xyrixa/hex-prism Bishop+Theologian, as the place where priests are trained.
SEMPER cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Tripper, extrapolated from Camper.
SENARD cubic FO 4:2:2 leaper, extrapolated from Canard.
SENATOR hex-prism Dicorn+Duke, as a powerful rôle in modern society.
SENBARC, SENCRAB hex Senhequarterer+Senherevisionist+Senhecoward, Senhelm+Senhereservist+Senheshelterer, by analogy to Sennight.
SENE cubic 4:4:2 Curved linepiece on 6-stage circuit, Srene, whose Curved rider it is, stripped of second consonant before first vowel.
SENETOAD cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Trebuchet, extrapolated from Canetoad.
SENGAZELLE hex Sennight+Offscore ¢.
SENHELM hex FO root-7 pure-hex leaper, punning on Fortnight §.
SENNIGHT hex symmetric root-7 pure-hex leaper, as a 7-day week, punning on its SOLL of 7 and Knight.
SENRHINO hex-prism 30° Wazir-Viceroy alternator, EMD Sennightwise.
SENROSE hex Curved root-7 linepiece on 12-stage circuit, by analogy to Sennight.
SENTOR cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Eunuch, extrapolated from Cantor.
SENVASSER cubic/xyrixa Rook+Sexton, extrapolated from Canvasser.
SENVISOR hex Senhelm+Hyphen ¢.
SEPRECHAUN hex Unicorn+Sennight, extrapolated from Leprechaun.
SERF hex-prism Saltire capturing as Senhelm, as menial position with same first consonant and vowel as Sennight.
SERGEANT hex Point+Investigator.
SERGERIDER hex piece making repeated Sergeant steps changing direction only in the usual chevron-rank way on crossing the middle file.
SERIBOU cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Elephant, extrapolated from Caribou.
SERRING square Sumpreservist+Stripcoward, extrapolated from Herring.
SESBAH cubic/xyrixa Sexton+Dabbaba, extrapolated from Casbah.
SESSOWARY, SETCHPOLE cubic symmetric 6:3:3 leaper, symmetric 8:4:4 leaper, extrapolated from Cassowary, Catchpole.
SETCHICK square FO 7:0 leaper, extrapolated from Settler § and Dabchick.
SETDOWN hex symmetric root-63 pure-hex leaper, extrapolated from Letdown.
SETSK, SETTER, SETTLER square FO 7:7 leaper, symmetric 7:7 leaper, symmetric 7:0 leaper, first extrapolated from Setter § and Tusk.
SEVENLEAPER cubic/2d hex/xyrixa Heptagram+Settler, hex-prism Heptagram+Settler+Quibbler+Sceptic, as the compound of all pieces with leap length 7.
SEVERITY cubic Stripe+Nabber ¢.
SEVITE xyrixa/hex-prism Bishop+Sennight, extrapolated from Levite.
SEXIST hex Senhelm+Accent ¢.
SEYLINE hex FO root-28 pure-hex leaper, extrapolated from Leyline.
SEYCHELLE cubic Slimmer+Shirker ¢.
SHABBAT hex-prism Sennight+Fortnight ¢.
SHADE hex-prism FO 3:root 19 leaper, from the insubstantiality of the Wraith §.
SHADOWER hex-prism Trilemma+Point, short for shadow minister, an opposition spokesperson on the same subject as the corresponding Minister §.
SHAMMES hex Finch capturing as Rabbi, as a lay employee in a synagogue.
SHAROLAIS cubic 10:4, extrapolated from Charolais.
SHEARWATER hex 60° Wazir-Wazir 3-stepper, as a bird sharing the first consonant and vowel of Sennight.
SHEBA, SHEHEREZADE square Queen+Bison, Queen+Gazelle, as names associated with female characters, starting with the English female-specific pronoun, and with the B of Bison and Z of Gazelle later on.
SHEIKH hex-prism Bellman+Drunkard, by analogy to Pasha.
SEXTON cubic symmetric 2:1:1 leaper, xyrixa dual to cubic Viceroy, problematist isage, apparently punning on SOLL of 6.
SHEPHERDING piece all one pushing a single adjacent piece directly out of its way, but also able to push one each on neighbouring lines, from Westfield Chess.
SHERPA hex-prism Bellboy+Tippler, by analogy to Pashtun.
SHERIFF hex-prism Sennight+Heffalump ¢.
SHIATSU cubic xyrixa Slimmer+Skimmer ¢.
SHIP square square that carries up to three conventional pieces and can be moved by either player based on what pieces are on it, from David Jagger's PiRaTeKnIcS.
SHIREHORSE cubic/hex Packet+Elephant, in conjunction with other -horse names for similar Packet compounds.
SHIRKER cubic symmetric 8:8:5 leaper, from being a Hypotenuse piece of Slimmer and Skimmer.
SHOEBILL, SHOEHORN hex-prism Horn+Drumstick, Horn+Dadchick, in conjunction with other shoe-based names.
SHOGUN cubic Sexton+Ninja+Nimel, as a higher rank a Japanese warrior than a samurai.
SHOOTER, SHOOTFOLLOW-ER/-RESS/-SMAN/-SWOMAN, SHOOTRESS, SHOOTS-MAN/-WOMAN square Cannonball+Arrowcoward, and its further compounds with the same-rank moves respectively of the Sling/Cannonade/Arbalest/Arsenal/Cannon/Arrow/Tank, extrapolated from Hunter and Hawker from shooter of birds.
SHORT- all indicates Crooked piece with the greater angle of turn and therefore shorter-SOLL two-leap and subsequent moves.
SHORT-SWITCHBACK alternator all one alternating between shorter steps of a Straight, and longer ones of a Crooked, move.
SHORTLIST cubic Sleep+Stagger ¢.
SHOVEL cubic FO 2:1:1 leaper, xyrixa dual to cubic Saltire, from gravedigging organised by Sexton §.
SHOWHORSE hex-prism Packet+Alderman, in conjunction with other -horse types for similar Packet compounds.
SHRIMP cubic Key+Salticoward, hex Key+Salticoward+Vicerfiler, as a term for a weakling as well as a kind of shellfish.
SHROUD cubic/hex FO 4:4:4 or pure-hex root-48 leaper, as a covering for a Corpse §.
SHUNTING piece all one fled as part of, and in the same direction as, its own move by pieces ahead of it in that move.
SHURIKEN cubic Underline+Nutcracker, EMD Nunchakuwise.
SIBON square Macel+Bezra, reversing first 3 letters, or 2 consonants, of Bison whose Curved rider it is.
SIDE- square reaching the same destinations but by alternating orthogonals at right angles.
SIDEWAYS Brooklike piece cubic one rotated to be the orthogonal -stacker plus the SD -rower.
SIGNPOST hex-prism Arrowranker+Swordfiler on Glinski-level, vice versa on Wellisch-level, and Arrowcolumner+Swordleveller on hex-ranked, from its having a subset of the Arrowline move.
SILLOCK hex-prism Hyphen+Fang, extrapolated from Hillock.
SILVER- square adds Point move to symmetric Sd pieces, adds Ferz moves to FO orthogonal pieces, and makes SD component of Princelingwise pieces symmetric, from Silvergeneral.
SILVERBEAK square Bishop+Dabchick.
SILVERBISHOP square Bishop+Point.
SILVERCOWARD square Ferz+Pointcoward.
SILVERDABCHICK square Ferz+Dabchick.
SILVERELEPHANT square Elephant+Point.
SILVERFACULTY square Wing+Elephant.
SILVERFEARFUL square Ferz+Elephant+Point.
SILVERGENERAL square Ferz+Point.
SILVERHUNTER square Hunter+Cross.
SILVERLINING, SILVERMINE square Wrestler+Gardener, Elephant+Cannonball.
SILVERIDER square Bishop+Wing.
SILVERPAWN square Point capturing as Ferz.
SILVERSTEWARD square Contrasteward+Pawn.
SILVERSTEWARDESS square Contrastewardess+Pawnrider.
SILVERYEOMAN square Ferz capturing as Point.
SIMPERER cubic/hex Simurgh capturing as Farrier ¢.
SIMURGH cubic/hex Rook with first step replaced by a Viceroy one, in conjunction with fellow monsters Fury, Gorgon, Gryphon, Harpy, Hydra, Lamia, Manticore, and Sphinx.
SINNY square Zreb+Merz, extrapolated from Hinny.
SIREN hex-prism Duchess+Drummer, by analogy to sea monsters for corresponding Unicorn compounds, but specifically female.
SISSA, SISSOID alternator square/hex Queen making a 45° or 135° turn after half the steps, piece making equal numbers of each kind of step ion two straight lines with the specified turn (e.g. 45° for Sissa component the SISSOID RHINO) in between.
SITTING cubic Bump+Girth, as a group feasting in a room at the same time.
SIXLEAPER cubic/xyrixa Nhirolais+Bitrebuchet, as the compound of all pieces with leap length 6.
SKELETON cubic/hex symmetric 5:5:5 or pure-hex root-75 leaper, as a stage weaker than the 4:4:4 or pure-hex root-48 Corpse.
SKEW- square/hex replaces a double-bent piece's turns with those taking its path outside the usual plane.
SKIMMER cubic symmetric 7:7:2 leaper, xyrixa dual to cubic Slimmer, as one who may skim foods to suit slimmers.
SKINNY cubic/xyrixa Foil+Lank, as what a slimmer intends to become.
SKULL cubic/hex FO 5:5:5 or pure-hex root-75 leaper, as a particular part of the Skeleton §.
SKUNK, SKUNKCUB cubix/hex Dicorn and Dilemma respectively restricted to make odd numbers of moves, also various leaping versions, extrapolated from Panda and Bear.
SKY- 3d/hex adds Saltire move to Kingwise pieces, adds Prince moves to FO ND pieces, and makes orthogonal and SD components of Conquerorwise pieces symmetric, as backdrop to the Sun and Moon.
SKYGENERAL 3d/hex Prince+Saltire.
SKYRIDER, SKYRULER 3d/hex Princess+Horn, King+Saltire.
Next page

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: 2011-11-19. Web page last updated: 2013-04-24