arch. Forms: 6 checkyn, chikino, (sechino), chekin, 7 chickin, -een(e, -en, chechin, cecchine, chiquiney, -ie, chicquin, checqine, chekeen, 7–8 chequin, chequeen, 8 shekin. See also SEQUIN, ZECCHIN. [ad. It. zecchino; f. zecca the mint at Venice.
(This is the most thoroughly English form of the word, which is now however usually written in its French form sequin.)]
A gold coin of Italy and Turkey, worth from about 7s. to 9s. 6d. in English money; a SEQUIN.
1583. Cæsar Frederici, in Hakluyt, II. 343 (Y.). Chickinos which be pieces of Golde woorth seuen shillings a piece sterling.
1589. T. Sanders, Unfort. Voy. Tripoli, in Arb., Garner, II. 14. To lend him 100 chikinos.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 152. Euery man a chekin, which is seuen shillings and two pence sterling.
1601. W. Parry, Trav. Sir A. Sherley, 30. Feeing her with two chickins.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, I. iii. (1616). 457. When euery word … is a cecchine!
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. ii. 28. Three or four thousand Chickeens [mod. ed. chequins].
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 191. Chests … full of chiquineys.
1611. Chapman, May Day, Plays, 1873, II. 340. Half a chickeene to cut’s throat.
a. 1652. Brome, Novella, I. ii. (1653), I. Now I am sorry with all my heart; and here’s a Thousand checqines to expiate my trespasse.
1653. Greaves, Seraglio, 91–2. Six hundred thousand chicquins yearly.
1655. Massinger, Very Woman, III. i. Fifty chekeens, Sir.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, VI. 413. This Convent payeth but one Chequin, for all its Duties, to the Velvode.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1714), 91. Presenting the Guardian with two Chequeens a piece.
1773. Gentl. Mag., XLIII. 249. A body of Jews … tendered, as usual, 1000 shekins.
1794. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (ed. 2), I. 350. No objection to take your money … 14000 chequins, 7000l. sterling.
