1. Work arranged after the pattern of a chess-board; work chequered in pattern. Also attrib.
1519. Horman, Vulg., xxix. 242. The rofe shalbe celed vautwyse, & with cheker work.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 366. The Romane coines, the cherkerworke pavements.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3754/8. A Stuff Gown of Red and Blue Chequer-work.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. (1863), 459. My letter, first written horizontally … then perpendicularly to form a sort of chequer-work.
2. transf. and fig. Anything chequered or diversified with contrasting characters.
1618. T. Adams, Serm., Happ. Church, Wks. 1630, 535. Now joy with sorrow, checkerworke.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 8. A Checquer-work of Arguments and Oratory.
1654. Trapp, Comm. Ps. lx. 10. The Churches prosperity, like checker-work, is intermingled with adversity.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. xi. 184. How strange a Chequer-Work of Providence is the Life of Man!
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xvii. One of the most striking examples which the chequer-work of life could show.
