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cheque

The origin and history of cheque.

Etymology

From the same root as "check" — via Old French eschec back to Persian shah ("king"), the word used in chess. "Cheque" is simply the British spelling that split off from "check" in the 1790s, partly by influence of "exchequer."

Origin: Old French · First attested 1790

Class of 1790

cheque first entered the language around 1790. Other words from the same year:

See the full Class of 1790 →
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Etymology: FreeDict original editorial.