Chirograph

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chirograph \Chi"ro*graph\, n. [Gr. ? written with the hand;
     chei`r hand + gra`fein to write.] (Old. Law)
     (a) A writing which, requiring a counterpart, was engrossed
         twice on the same piece of parchment, with a space
         between, in which was written the word chirographum,
         through which the parchment was cut, and one part given


         to each party. It answered to what is now called a
         {charter party}.
     (b) The last part of a fine of land, commonly called the foot
         of the fine. --Bouvier.
         [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  CHIROGRAPH, conveyancing. Signifies a deed or public instrument in writing. 
  Chirographs were anciently attested by the subscription and crosses of 
  witnesses; afterwards, to prevent frauds and concealments, deeds of mutual 
  covenant were made in a script and rescript, or in a part and counterpart; 
  and in the middle, between the two copies, they drew the capital letters of 
  the alphabet, and then tallied, or cut asunder in an indented manner, the 
  sheet or skin of parchment, one of which parts being delivered to each of the
  
  parties, were proved authentic by matching with and answering to one 
  another. Deeds thus made were denominated syngrapha, by the canonists, 
  because that word, instead of the letters of the alphabet, or the word 
  chirographum, was used. 2 Bl. Com. 296. This method of preventing 
  counterfeiting, or of detecting counterfeits, is now used by having some 
  ornament or some word engraved or printed at one end of certificates of 
  stocks, checks, and a variety of other instruments, which are bound up in a 
  book, and after they are executed, are cut asunder through such ornament or 
  word. 
       2. Chirograph is also the last part of, a fine of land, commonly called 
  the foot of the fine. It is an instrument of writing beginning with these. 
  words: "This is the final agreement," &c. It includes the whole matter, 
  reciting the parties, day, year and place, and before Whom the fine was 
  acknowledged and levied. Cruise, Dig. tit. 35, c. 2, s. 52. Vide Chambers' 
  Diet. h.t.; Encyclopaedia Americana, Charter; Encyclopedie de D'Alembert, 
  h.t.; Pothier, Pand. tom. xxii. p. 73.