Exchequer: meaning, definitions and examples
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exchequer
[ ɪkˈʃɛkə ]
government finance
The exchequer is a department or office in government in the United Kingdom and some other countries which controls the public money and collects taxes.
Synonyms
finance ministry, fiscal department, treasury
Examples of usage
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for managing the country's finances.
- The exchequer plays a crucial role in ensuring the government has enough funds to operate smoothly.
historical
The exchequer was a royal or national treasury in the Middle Ages, when it was also a court of law responsible for dealing with cases relating to revenue and taxation.
Synonyms
financial department, revenue office, treasury
Examples of usage
- During the Middle Ages, the exchequer was a key institution for managing the kingdom's finances.
- The exchequer was both a financial and judicial institution in medieval England.
Translations
Translations of the word "exchequer" in other languages:
🇵🇹 erário
🇮🇳 कोषागार
🇩🇪 Staatskasse
🇮🇩 perbendaharaan
🇺🇦 казначейство
🇵🇱 skarb państwa
🇯🇵 財務省
🇫🇷 trésor
🇪🇸 erario
🇹🇷 hazine
🇰🇷 국고
🇸🇦 الخزانة
🇨🇿 státní pokladna
🇸🇰 štátna pokladnica
🇨🇳 财政部
🇸🇮 državna blagajna
🇮🇸 ríkissjóður
🇰🇿 қазына
🇬🇪 საგანძური
🇦🇿 xəzinə
🇲🇽 erario
Word origin
The word 'exchequer' has its origins in Old French 'eschequier', which in turn comes from the Latin 'scaccarium' meaning a chess board or counting table. The Exchequer in England was established in the 12th century as a financial institution to manage the royal revenues. Over time, the term came to refer to both the financial department and the court of law. The importance of the Exchequer declined in the 19th century with the growth of other financial institutions.
See also: cheque.