An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/scheckig

by Friedrich Kluge

scheckig, adj., ‘dappled, spotted, pied,’ from MidHG. (rare) schëcke, ‘striped, spotted,’ to which are also allied MidHG. schëcken, ‘to make of various colours,’ schëckëht, ‘spotted,’ also MidHG. schëcke, ‘a closely-fitting striped coat,’ AS. sciccels, ‘coat.’ It is, on the other hand, assumed that the word is borrowed from Fr. échec, ‘check’ (Ital. a scacchi); comp. E. checky.