exchequer

Where does the word "exchequer" come from? It comes from Persian shah, passing through Vulgar Latin and Old French before entering English (c. 1300).

Exchequer’s story begins in Persian: shah meant “king.” Meant "king"; the term for the piece threatened in chess. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Vulgar Latin as scaccus. Adapted the Persian word for chess terminology as the game spread through Arabic contact into Europe. From there it passed into Old French as eschequier by c. 1300. Named a checkered cloth used as a counting table for royal accounts. It reached English by c. 1300 as exchequer. Became the name of the English royal department of revenue, with a spurious "x" added later. Today, exchequer means the department of a national government responsible for revenue and public funds, especially in the UK.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · ancient shah "king", meant "king"; the term for the piece threatened in chess.
2. Stage 2 · Vulgar Latin · medieval scaccus "chess, chessboard", adapted the Persian word for chess terminology as the game spread through Arabic contact into Europe.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · c. 1300 eschequier "chessboard, counting table", named a checkered cloth used as a counting table for royal accounts.
4. Stage 4 · English · c. 1300 exchequer "royal treasury department", became the name of the English royal department of revenue, with a spurious "x" added later.