cheque
Britishnoun
-
a bill of exchange drawn on a bank by the holder of a current account; payable into a bank account, if crossed, or on demand, if uncrossed
-
the total sum of money received for contract work or a crop
-
wages
Etymology
Origin of cheque
C18: from check , in the sense: a means of verification
Explanation
A cheque is a written order directing a bank to pay out money, and it's exactly the same thing as a check, but with more exciting letters. The American English word for the slip of paper that authorizes your bank to make a payment is check, which is the adjusted spelling of the British English cheque. That word comes from exchequer which is like a bank, and so a cheque is a note that has the seal of the bank: an official piece of paper. Cheque can be used as a verb meaning "withdraw."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When William Byrd died on July 4, 1623, the Cheque Book of the Chapel Royal noted the passing of “a Father of Musick.”
From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2023
Cheque cashing, fashion and banks are all in decline while coffee shops, charity outlets and takeaway food are thriving.
From BBC • Oct. 16, 2015
"The move towards these low-tech crimes of deception highlights the importance of consumers knowing how they can protect themselves," said Detective Chief Inspector Dave Carter, head of the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit.
From BBC • Oct. 4, 2013
Cheque out … 'The chances of your first advance being anything other than frighteningly tiny are slim.'
From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2011
Cheque, earlier check, is identical with check, rebuff.
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
