English Explanatory Dictionary

exchequer

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An office of revenue taxation; a treasury.
  2. An available fund of money, especially one for a specific purpose.
verb
  1. To proceed against (a person) in the Court of Exchequer.
name
  1. The government department that collects and manages revenue.

Pronunciation

ĕks-chĕk'-ər iks-chĕk'-ər /ɛksˈt͡ʃɛ.kɚ/ /ɪksˈt͡ʃɛ.kɚ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-exchequer.wav

Word forms

exchequer exchequers exchecker exchequering exchequered

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tek- Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati Proto-Iranian *xšáyati Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ) Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ) Classical Persian شاه (šāh)bor. Arabic شَاه (šāh)bor. Medieval Latin scaccus Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsjos Medieval Latin -ārius Medieval Latin -ārium Medieval Latin scaccarium Anglo-Norman eschekerbor. Middle English escheker English exchequer From Middle English escheker, from Anglo-Norman escheker (“chessboard”), from Medieval Latin scaccarium. This is because the cloth on which the treasurer counted money was chequered like a chessboard.

Synonyms

Treasury

Derived words

Exchequer exchequer bill exchequership Chancellor of the Exchequer
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