The Chequers
Preserved but no longer current.
(1) in honour of the Stuarts, whose shield was "cheeky," like a Scotch plaid. <2) In commemoration of the licence granted by the Earls of Arundel or Lords Warrenne. (3) An intimation that a room is set apart for merchants and accountants, where they can be private and make up their accounts, or use their "chequers" undisturbed.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Chequers” mean?
(1) in honour of the Stuarts, whose shield was "cheeky," like a Scotch plaid. <2) In commemoration of the licence granted by the Earls of Arundel or Lords Warrenne. (3) An intimation that a room is set apart for merchants and accountants, where they can be private and make up their accounts, or use their "chequers" undisturbed.
Is “The Chequers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.