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Origin and history of Zugzwang

Zugzwang(n.)

1904, in chess, "a forced move that disadvantages the player who must make it," from German Zugzwang, literally "move-compulsion," from Zug "move (in chess); a drawing, pulling, a stretch," from Old High German ziohan "to pull," from Proto-Germanic *teuhan (see tug (v.)).

also from 1904

Entries linking to Zugzwang

tug(v.)

c. 1200, tuggen, from weak grade of Old English teohan "to pull, handle roughly, drag," from Proto-Germanic *teuhan "to pull" (source also of Old High German zucchen "to pull, jerk," German zücken "to draw quickly), from PIE root *deuk- "to lead." Related to tow (v.). Related: Tugged; tugging.

*deuk-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to lead."

It might form all or part of: abduce; abducent; abduct; abduction; adduce; aqueduct; circumduction; conduce; conducive; conduct; conductor; conduit; deduce; deduction; dock (n.1) "ship's berth;" doge; douche; ducal; ducat; Duce; duchess; duchy; duct; ductile; duke (n.); educate; education; induce; induction; introduce; introduction; misconduct; produce; production; reduce; reduction; seduce; seduction; subduce; subduction; taut; team (n.); teem (v.1) "abound, swarm, be prolific;" tie (n.); tow (v.); traduce; transducer; tug; Zugzwang.

It might also be the source of: Latin dux (genitive ducis) "leader, commander," in Late Latin "governor of a province," ducere "to lead;" Old English togian "to pull, drag," teonteon "to pull, drag;" German Zaum "bridle," ziehen "to draw, pull, drag;" Middle Welsh dygaf "I draw."

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