Dabbaba (chess)

The dabbaba, also known as the dabaaba or dabbabah, is a fairy chess piece that jumps two squares orthogonally (the directions a rook can move), leaping over any intermediate piece.

In older Arabic, it referred to a type of medieval siege engine designed to shelter men who are digging a hole in enemy fortifications (Latin: vinea).

The name dabbaba was also used for other pieces in old chess variants, such as one that moved like the modern bishop.

Its value as a piece by itself is severely compromised by its being "twice-colourbound"—able to reach only a quarter of the squares on the 8×8 chessboard.

Combining it with other pieces usually masks this weakness to some extent.