Exchequer
/ɪksˈtʃɛkər/
Definitions
A treasury; the British government department responsible for revenue and public expenditure.
/ɪksˈtʃɛkər/
A treasury or financial department.
The funds were transferred directly from the exchequer to the designated project.
💡 Simply: Imagine a really important money-handling office, like the one that keeps track of all the money the government spends and gets. That's the exchequer! Like a giant piggy bank for a country.
👶 For kids: A place where the government keeps track of all its money!
More Examples
The government's financial policies are often shaped by decisions made within the exchequer.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a key figure in British politics.
How It's Used
"The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the budget to Parliament."
"The royal exchequer was responsible for collecting taxes and managing the king's finances."
Idioms & expressions
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The British government minister in charge of financial affairs.
"The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a new economic initiative."
From Old French eschequier, from Medieval Latin scaccarium ('chessboard'), from Latin scaccus (from Arabic shāh, 'king,' in chess). Originally referred to the checkered cloth covering a table used for counting money.
Historically, the exchequer referred specifically to the court of the English monarch, dealing with matters of finance. It played a crucial role in the administration and taxation of the realm.
Memory tip
Think of the checkered table used for counting money in old treasuries; it was like an early accounting system for the exchequer.
Word Origin
"A treasury or financial department. Derived from the checkered cloth used for counting money."