Exchequer

(eks-chĕk'er), n. [O. Fr. eschequier, eschakier, chess-board, L. Lat. scaccarium, scaccharium. See CHECKER and CHESS.]

1Sense 1. One of the superior courts of law; — so called from a checkered cloth, which covers, or formerly covered, the table. [Eng.]

☞ It was formerly a court both of law and equity, but is now a court of revenue and a court of common law only. In the revenue department, it has jurisdiction over the proprietary rights of the crown against subjects; in the common law department, it administers justice in personal actions between subject and subject. A person proceeding against another in the revenue department is said to exchequer him. The judges of this court are one chief and four puisne barons, so styled. The Court of Exchequer Chamber sits as a court of error in which the judgments of each of the superior courts of common law, in England, are subject to revision by the judges of the other two sitting collectively. Causes involving difficult questions of law are sometimes, after argument, adjourned into this court from the other courts, for debate before judgment in the court below. Wharton. Blackstone.

2Sense 2. The treasury; hence, pecuniary possessions in general; as, the expenses of the war drained the exchequer; the exchequer of the company is low.

Exchequer bills (Eng.), bills for 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.