exchequer

[eks-chek-er, iks-chek-er]

noun

1. a treasury, as of a state or nation.

2. (in Great Britain)

   1. (often initial capital letter),  the governmental department in charge of the public revenues.

   2. (formerly) an office administering the royal revenues and determining all cases affecting them.

   3. Also called Court of Exchequer. (initial capital letter),  an ancient common-law court of civil jurisdiction in which cases affecting the revenues of the crown were tried, now merged in the King's Bench Division of the High Court.

3. Informal.,  one's financial resources; funds.

   I'd love to go, but the exchequer is a bit low.

exchequer

¹

/ ɪksˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. (often capital) government (in Britain and certain other countries) the accounting department of the Treasury, responsible for receiving and issuing funds

2. informal,  personal funds; finances

Exchequer

²

/ ɪksˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. See Court of Exchequer

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchequer¹

1250–1300; Middle English escheker, eschequier < Anglo-French escheker, eschekier ( Old French eschequier ) chessboard, counting table. See checker ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchequer¹

C13 (in the sense: chessboard, counting table): from Old French eschequier , from eschec _check

Example Sentences

Budget days used to be symbolised by the chancellor of the exchequer smiling and holding aloft the famous Red Box outside Number 11.

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In 2015 he was health secretary, and later held other government posts, including chancellor of the exchequer and foreign secretary.

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The chancellor of the exchequer warned of "necessary choices" as Britain struggles with high debt and inflation.

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It is more than half a century since a chancellor of the exchequer chose to put up the basic rate of income tax.

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But independent experts and rating agencies like Moody's expect the figure to be higher, with the strain on the exchequer "even more pronounced" in the coming years.

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Related Words

• gift 
• money 
• prize 
• reward 
• wealth