See Also: Exchequer(medicine)
Exchequer Pub(tourism)
Exchequer(dictionary)
Exchequer(encyclopedia)
exchequer(dictionary)
EXCHEQUER R, Eng(law)
Chancellor of the Exchequer(dictionary)
BARONS OF EXCHEQUER, Eng(law)
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Eng(law)
EXCHEQUER CHAMBER, Eng(law)

exchequer (iou)



exchequer noun & verb. ME.
[Anglo-Norman escheker, Old French eschequier (mod. echiquier) from medieval Latin scaccarium chessboard, from scaccus CHECK noun1 (see CHECK interjection, -ER2); ex- by assoc. with EX-1. So called with ref. to the chequered tablecloth on which accounts were orig. kept by means of counters. Aphet. to CHEQUER noun1.]
A. noun. In senses 2-4 usu. Exchequer.
I.
A chessboard; = CHEQUER noun1 1. ME-L15.
II.
Hist. A department of state established under the Norman kings of England that dealt with the collection and administration of the royal revenues and with legal disputes about them. ME.
Orig. (now Hist.), the Government department responsible for the receipt and custody of the money collected by the departments of revenue. Now, the Government's account at the Bank of England whose balance forms the Consolidated Fund. LME.
b. the Exchequer, the contents of the Exchequer. M17.
Hist. More fully Court of Exchequer, Exchequer of Pleas. A former court of law (merged in the High Court of Justice in 1873) which historically represented the Anglo-Norman Exchequer in its judicial capacity. L15.
b. Either of the two analogous courts that formerly existed in Scotland and Ireland. E19.
A royal or national treasury. M16.
The monetary possessions of a private person, an institution, etc. E17.
Phrases: Chancellor of the Exchequer: see CHANCELLOR 2. Court of Exchequer, Exchequer of Pleas: see sense 4 above. Marshal of the Exchequer: see MARSHAL noun1 4. stop of the exchequer: see STOP noun2.
Comb.: exchequer bill Hist. a bill of credit with varying interest issued by authority of Parliament; exchequer-chamber Hist. the room in the Exchequer where judges and officials met; (also Court of Exchequer Chamber) any of several former courts of appeal; a former forum of debate comprising all the judges.
b. verb trans.
Place in an exchequer or treasury. rare. Only in E18.
Hist. Proceed against (a person) in the Court of Exchequer. E19.
b. Seize as contraband. E19.