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Webster 1913 Edition


Exchequer

Ex-cheq′uer

,
Noun.
[OE.
escheker
, OF.
eichekier
, fr. LL.
scaccarium
. See
Checker
,
Chess
,
Check
.]
1.
One of the superior courts of law; – so called from a checkered cloth, which covers, or formerly covered, the table.
[Eng.]
☞ The exchequer was a court of law and equity. In the revenue department, it had jurisdiction over the proprietary rights of the crown against subjects; in the common law department, it administered justice in personal actions between subject and subject. A person proceeding against another in the revenue department was said to exchequer him. The judges of this court were one chief and four puisne barons, so styled. The Court of Exchequer Chamber sat as court of error in which the judgments of each of the superior courts of common law, in England, were subject to revision by the judges of the other two sitting collectively. Causes involving difficult questions of law were sometimes after argument, adjourned into this court from the other courts, for debate before judgment in the court below. Recent legislation in England (1880) has abolished the Court of Exchequer and the Court of Exchequer Chamber, as distinct tribunals, a single board of judiciary, the High Court of Justice, being established for the trial of all classes of civil cases.
Wharton.
2.
The department of state having charge of the collection and management of the royal revenue.
[Eng.]
Hence, the treasury; and, colloquially, pecuniary possessions in general;
as, the company’s
exchequer
is low
.
Barons of the exchequer
.
See under
Baron
.
Chancellor of the exchequer
.
See under
Chancellor
.
Exchequer bills
or
Exchequer bonds
(Eng.)
,
bills of money, or promissory bills, issued from the exchequer by authority of Parliament; a species of paper currency emitted under the authority of the government, and bearing interest.

Ex-cheq′uer

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Exchequered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Exchequering
.]
To institute a process against (any one) in the Court of Exchequer.

Webster 1828 Edition


Exchequer

EXCHEQ'UER

,
Noun.
exchek'er.
In England, an ancient court of record, intended principally to collect and superintend the king's debts and duties or revenues, and so called from scaccharium, or from the same root, denoting a checkered cloth, which covers the table. In consists of two divisions: the receipt of the exchequer, which manages the royal revenue; and the judicial part, which is divided into a court of law and a court of equity. The court of equity is held in the exchequer chamber, before the lord treasurer, the chancellor of the exchequer, the chief baron and three inferior barons. The common law court is held before the barons, without the treasurer or chancellor.
Exchequer-bills, in England, bills for money, or promissory bills, issued from the exchequer; a species of paper currency emitted under the authority of the government and bearing interest.

EXCHEQ'UER

,
Verb.
T.
To institute a process against a person in the court of exchequer.

Definition 2024


Exchequer

Exchequer

See also: exchequer

English

Proper noun

Exchequer

  1. (Britain) the government department that collects and manages revenue

Derived terms

exchequer

exchequer

See also: Exchequer

English

Noun

exchequer (plural exchequers)

  1. A treasury.
  2. An available fund of money, especially one for a specific purpose.

Translations