dial. [app. in allusion to the chequered or spotted appearance of the fruit (Britten & Holl.). The surmises that chequer may be a corruption of choker, and that ‘choker’ may once have been the name, are gratuitous.]
In pl. The fruit or berries of the Wild Service tree, Pyrus torminalis. In sing. also the tree: short for chequer-tree, -wood.
1649. Culpepper, Phys. Direct., 281. Services, Checkers called in Suffolk.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, x. Sorbus, the Service tree … is rais’d of the Chequers or Berries, which being ripe (that is) rotten, about September, may be sown like Beech-Mast.
1875. Parish, Sussex Dial., Chequer, the service tree. Pyrus torminalis. The fruit is called chequers.
1878. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., At Edenbridge, Kent, it is called ‘Chequer-wood.’
1883. Academy, 7 April, 242. The bright bunches of red berries with which the Chequer-trees were laden.
