Exchequer
A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891
A Dictionary of Law
That department of the English government which has chargeof the collection of the national revenue; the treasury department. It is said to hava been s0 named from the cheauered cloth, resembling a chess-voard, which anciently covered the table there, and on which, whon certain of the king's accounts were made up, the sums were marked and scored with counters, 8 Bl, Comm. 44.