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Bible Encyclopedias
Indenture
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
or (through 0. Fr. endenture from a legal Latin term indentura, indentare, to cut into teeth, to give a jagged edge, in modum dentium, like teeth), a law term for a special form of deed executed between two or more parties, and having counterparts or copies equal to the number of parties. These copies were all drawn on one piece of vellum or paper divided by a toothed or "indented" line. The copies when separated along this waved line could then be identified as "tallies" when brought together. Deeds executed by one party only had a smooth or "polled" edge, whence the name "deed poll." By the Real Property Act 18 45, § 5, all deeds purporting to be "indentures" have the effect of an "indenture," even though the indented line be absent. The name "chirograph" (Gr.; Y ei p, hand, -ypac/Deu', to write) was also early applied to such a form of deed, and the word itself was often written along the indented line (see further Deed and Diplomatic). The term "'indenture" is now used generally of any sealed agreement between two or more parties, and specifically of a contract of apprenticeship, whence the phrase "to take up one's indentures," on completion of the term, and also of a contract by labourers to serve in a foreign country or colony (see Coolie).
These files are public domain.
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Indenture'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/bri/i/indenture.html. 1910.
