Why is the castle called a rook?

Why is the castle called a rook? Castles are called “rooks” in chess because the word originates from the Persian word “rukh”. Before they looked like castles, these chess pieces actually looked like chariots and rukh is what they called them in that original language. This wasn’t the first name for the piece either.

Castles are called “rooks” in chess because the word originates from the Persian word “rukh”. Before they looked like castles, these chess pieces actually looked like chariots and rukh is what they called them in that original language. This wasn’t the first name for the piece either.