The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tessellate \Tes"sel*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tessellated; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Tessellating.] [L. tessellatus tessellated.
   See Tessellar.]
   To form into squares or checkers; to lay with checkered work.
   [1913 Webster]

         The floors are sometimes of wood, tessellated after the
         fashion of France.                       --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]