b. Hence chess man, one whose duty it is to lay the chesses in making a pontoon-bridge.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier with special duty > [noun] > engineer > constructor of pontoons
pontonier1757
pontooner1785
chess man1853
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > pieces > a piece
chess1303
chequer1474
chessmen1474
piece1562
pin1688
chess man1853
1853 H. DouglasEss. Mil. Bridges (ed. 3) ii. 68 Rafts Nos. 5 and 6.—Chess Men.—Nos. 1 of No. 5 Raft will bring up two half Chesses and lay them across the Balks.