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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chekker, Chakker, n. Also: chekkere, -ar(e, -ir, chekar(e, -er, checker, chekquer, checquare, cheaker, cheiker, cheequer, chikker; chakkere (jakkere), -ir, chak(k)ar, cha(l)ker, chaikker, chacker, chacquer. [ME. chekkere, chekere, cheker (c 1314), etc., reduced form of ME. and AF. escheker.]

1. A chess-board. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3701.
The ches was asked sone, … And men thame brocht wele at richt Sic ane chekker that neuer ar Was sene ane better seildin quare a1500 Bk. Chess 59.
The ferd part sall … declare Of all the chekkere & the proper moving Of euery man Ib. 2015.
As the chekker in four sqwar is met, And ilk sqware with viij poyntis is set 1527 Caldwell P. 57.
Ane chekker of evor 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XIII. 119 b.
Ane chaker, price x s. 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XVI. (J).
Ane auld chaker with the men of tabillis thairto 1615 Haddington Corr. 290.
Ane chekkar, with table men 1624 Edinb. Test. LII. 294.
Fyve pair of chekeres at xxiiij s. the pair 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 43.
A cheker of bon with ane stand of tabill men 1663 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 187.
A pair of table chakeres and men conforme

2. The annual audit at which all those in any way concerned with the royal revenues rendered an account of their receipts and disbursements.(a) 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 37.
In the witnes of the quhilk thing … we haf gart put the grit seil of our office, at Perth, the tyme of our chekar haldin c1420 Wynt. viii. 3160.
The nest compt that that schyrrawe thare Suld gywe, quhare haldyn the chekkare ware 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 89.
A letter … to summonde the Erle of Crafurde and Iohn Ramsay … to thare comptis to the Chekkar in Stirling 1491 Ib. 178.
Letteres to charge the schireffis … to the Chekar 1506 Buccleuch Mun. II. 109.
To gif his compt … of the said office of tutory, betuix this and the nixt Chekkare(b) 1306 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 11.]
[A respoyndre a la cheker de cele ferme 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 148.
He sal pay … the twa mark that Iohn the Waiche is vnder cont of to the last chekker, and the thyrd mark he sal … pay to the nest chekker 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 48.
To Dauid Rudeman passand with preceptis of the parliament and the chekkere on north halue Forth 1474 Acta Aud. 34/1.
The lordis … continewis the actioun quhill the viij day of the chekker 1498 Lanark B. Rec. 10.
The outreddin of four pundis that suld be gevin at the chekker 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 250/2.
Exempt fra all compering to sessionis, parliamentis, chekkeris, justice and chamerlane airis 1531 M. Works Acc. II. 25 b.
To the maister masoun in part payment of his task … sen the last chekker 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 727/2.
The said Schir Alexander hes bene oure soverane lordis servitour … in all sessionis, chekkeris and registre 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 203.
The personis quha hes had thair gudis past custome sen the last chekkir 1569 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 148.
My Lord Regents Grace ordaines the persons nominate … to conveine the tyme of the Checker 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. ii.
The kingis grace past to Striueling, and thair held his chekker 1584 Acts III. 309/1.
The same … salbe discussit befoir our chekker … quhilk chekker we haue appointed … to convene and sit ordinarlie … everie Tyisday and Furisday in the efternone 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
All schireffs suld be examined ȝeirelie in ilk checker howe they haue keiped the acts of Parliament 1617 Acts IV. 559/2.
The same is liquidat be the said act of Chekquer(c) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 10.
The chargis of the last Jakkere 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 12.
David Tempilman at brocht the precep off the chakkar Ib.
For my rydyn to the chakar 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 127.
For the drawing of the pece cassin before the last chakar 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 226.
He sall … deliuer … afore the chakker xv dayis xiiij markis 1560 Treas. Acc. XI. 11.
For thair ordinar wagis … , quhilk wes pretermittit in the last chaker; … xv li. x s. c1615 Chron. Kings 106.
The Queine … lougis in … ane hous quhair thay war wont to hald the Chakkir 1592 Melvill 305.
To be ratified in Secret Counsall, Sessioun, and Chacker

b. At or in the (kingis) chekker, in our chekker, etc., at the audit of accounts; at or in the royal exchequer.(a) 1425 Acts II. 9/2.
To mak reknyng ande gif compt tharof at the kingis chekare 1434 Exch. R. IV. 572.
Fyve markis … quhilkis salbe alowit to yhu at our chekkare 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 457/2.
That ȝe … mak compt ȝeirlie … in our chekkar(b) 1487 Acts II. 178/2.
This eschete to be inbrocht … to our soueran lorde vse & compt thairof to be made in his chekk[er] Ib. 182/2.
The wardane to present his assayis in the chekker 1501 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 88.
That ye … inbring and mak compt thairof to our thesaurare in our chekker yeirlie 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 396/1.
Iohne lord Drummond … maid na compt in the Kingis chekker thairfor as efferit 1534 Misc. Spald. C. II. 188.
Thir oure letteris of gift and assignatioun … producit … before the saidis auditouris vpon compt in our chekker 1567 Acts Jas. VI (1597) ii b.
That the collectors … mak ȝeirlie compt in the Chekker of their intromissioun 1581 Stirling Chart. 104.
To mak compt, reknyng and payment, to oure Souerane Lord and his Hienes thesaurair in his chekker 1600-1610 Melvill 334.
The leivings of the said ministers left incerteanlie to be sought from yeir to yeir at his hienes' Cheequer 1608 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 136.
I pray ȝow faill not to pay him presentlie, seing it is allowit in cheiker 1613 Highland P. III. 134.
The feu deuteis of thais landis being alreddie payit heir in checker of all ȝeires and termis bygane(c) 1453 Misc. Spald. C. V. 50.
To the kountrollar to helpe ws in the Chakar 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 66.
Diuers expensis … as his bill beris, particularly examinit at the Chakkere 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 87.
To rais the pains contenit vpon thame, and to mak compt thereof in the Chakker 1541 Treas. Acc. VII. 480.
To Johnne Perdoven, masar, for his laubouris in the Chakkar 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 101.
That every burch … suld mak compt of thair commoun gudis … in the Chakker yerelie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 70.
The Schiref sould compeir ilk ȝeare in the chaker vnder the paine of ten pounds

c. Auditouris, Lordis auditouris, or Lordis, of Chekker, those appointed by commission under the Quarter Seal to hold the audit and constituting the court of exchequer to hear cases relating to the royal revenues.(1) 1450–1510 (see Auditour n. 1 b). 1531 Treas. Acc. V. 437.
As the Kingis precept direct to the auditouris of chekker beris 1546 Grant Chart. 98.
Auditouris of our chakker and comptroller, we grete ȝou hartly weyll 1586 Reg. Soltre p. lvii.
Oure soverane lord … with aduise of the … auditouris of his Chekker … ordanis [etc.] 1617 Acts IV. 540/2.
The saidis iustices to giff vp … notes in wreat to the auditoures of his Maiesties chekquer of the fynes imbrocht to thame(2) 1488 Acta Conc. 86/1.
The lordis Auditouris of chakker decretis and deliueris that [etc.] 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 92.
To the capitane of Dunbar for sustenyng of Iohnne Moydart … be deliverance of the lordis auditouris of the chakar 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 449.
Lordis auditouris of chikker we greitt yow weill 1569 Bk. Univ. Kirk 147.
Such things as were referred to the Assembly be the Lords auditors of the Checker 1580 Douglas Corr. 25.
Commanding the Lordis Auditouris of our Chekker to defeis and allowe to our … cowsing quhatsumeuir dewtie … belanging to ws 1605 Melville Chart. 147.(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxix. 1.
My Lordis of Chacker, pleis ȝow to heir My coumpt 1545 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 219.
Quhilk giftis he beleuit wald nocht be admittit be the lordis of chakar 1554 Edinb. Old Acc. I.
The lords of the chakar 1600 Stirling B. Rec. I. 95.
Ane unlaw for his non compeirance befor the lordis of chekkar to mak the comptis of this burght at the day appointit 1600-1610 Melvill 340.
All former takes of teinds … salbe producit befor the Lords of Checquare 1614 Orkney Rentals II. 130.
The trew and just rentall of all the fermes … to be produsit befor his Ma[jes]ties Counsell and Lordis of his Highnes Chaker 1617 Acts IV. 540/2.
The saidis Lordis of his heighnes Chekquer sall appoynt suche farder satisfactioun to thame [etc.]

3. The royal exchequer, or the officials in charge of it. 1362 Reg. Great S. (1814) 22/1.]
[Infra burgum de Aberden in loco qui dicitur le cheker 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 324.
The Chekker payit to the Inglismen and ladyis thar feis of the terme of Lammes 1537 Acts II. 349.
Of chesing of officiaris in burgh, and bringing of their comptis of commoun gudis yerlie to the chekker a1578 Pitsc. II. 311/12.
Na collectouris of the ministeris to be ansuerit bot he onlie, and he to gif his compt thairof to the chalker 1595 Misc. Spald. C. V. 372.
It will be perrillous to mak payment … quhill sum substantious ordour and overtuir be maid be the chekker 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 85.
Quhilk rentall is in custodie of the cheaker

4. pl. The parts of a chequered pattern. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 24.
Wellus to be ane cote to the King, half chekkrit with claith of gold. Clath of gold … to the chekkers of it

5. Attrib. (in sense 3) with accompt, burd, dure, mater; also (in sense 1) dice, man, table.(1) 1498 Treas. Acc. I. 316.
Resauit … at the chekker burd, as the chekker roll beris … iiij li. 1526 Acta Conc. MS. XXXVI. 58.
Deliverit to him on the chakker burd thre keis of the box of assais of cunȝee 1527 Ib. XXXVII. 178.
We will that the samin [decretis] be of nane availe geif thai be nocht chekker materis 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 299.
To William Foullis, isher of the chekker dur 1559 Black Friars Perth 242.
Thair yeirly pensioun that … is yeirly allowit by our Soverand Ladeis chekkar accompts(2) 1624 Edinb. Test. LII. 294 b.
Fyve stand cheker men 1653 Ib. LXVII. 10.
xvij balls of chaker dyce 1663 Ib. LXXI. 103.
Ane old chaker table with dyce