checkpoint
UK: ˈtʃekpɔɪnt | US: ˈtʃekpɔɪnt
n. a place where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection
n. a stage in a process where progress is assessed
n. (computing) a saved state of data for recovery purposes
The word "checkpoint" combines "check" (from Old French eschequier, meaning "to control or verify") and "point" (from Latin punctum, meaning "a specific place"). Originally used in military contexts to denote locations where soldiers verified identities or inspected cargo, the term expanded to computing (saving progress) and general processes (progress assessment). The logic reflects a literal "point" where "checking" occurs.
The soldiers set up a checkpoint at the border.
The project reached a critical checkpoint before the deadline.
Save your work frequently; the software creates a checkpoint every hour.
Runners passed the final checkpoint before the finish line.
The system restarted from the last checkpoint after the crash.