"Charter," n.

1. A written document delivered by the sovereign or legislature:    a. granting privileges to, or recognizing rights of, the people, or of certain classes or individuals.
?a1250 [Forged] Charter Æ{edh}elstan (dated 939) in Cod. Dipl. V. 235 Ich Æ{edh}elstan..grantye and confirmye by {edh}isse minre chartre. 1297 R. GLOUC. (1724) 77 {Th}e emperour with god cartre, & mid ys owne cel, Hym {ygh}ef of {th}e se..{th}e warde..{Th}is false mon wende {th}o mid his cartre a-boute. Ibid. 498 Alle hor chartren ywis, That adde of is fader..Of franchise & of other thing, al clene were vndo. 1480 CAXTON Chron. Eng. VII. (1520) 88b/1 The Kynge made to them two charters..the great chartrye of fraunchyses, and..the charter of forest. 1570 LEVINS Manip. 71 A charter, diploma. 1591 LAMBARDE Arch. (1635) 65 The great Charter of England..for which the Englishmen had no lesse striven, than the Trojans for their Helena. 1593 SHAKES. Rich. II, II. i. 48 Our Substitutes at home shall haue Blanke-charters: Whereto..They shall subscribe them for large summes of Gold.

  c. creating or incorporating a borough, university, company, or other corporation.
1474 Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV, in Oxf. & Camb. Enactm. (1869) 8 Among certeyn liberties and privileges by charters..graunted unto the Chaunceller and Scolers of the said universite. 1596 SHAKES. Merch. V. IV. i. 39 If you denie it, let the danger light Vpon your Charter, and your Cities freedome.

 

2. A written evidence, instrument, or contract executed between man and man:    a. gen.
c1270 Saints' Lives (Laud MS.) (1887) 290 {Th}e chartre he wrou{ygh}te sone And a-selede hire with is ryng. 1377 LANGL. P. Pl. B. XI. 122 For may no cherle chartre make ne his catel selle, With-outen leue of his lorde. 1483 CAXTON Gold. Leg. 78/1 And toke a chartre and wrote the conscrypcion of the wedlok. 1494 FABYAN VII. 545 Many blanke chartours were deuysyd and brought into the cytie, whiche many of the moost substancyall men of the same were fayne to seale to theyr payne and charge. c1530 LD. BERNERS Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 26 Ye shall gyue to Perron your wyfe this nyght ye charter of her endowry.

 

b. applied esp. to the documents or deeds relating to conveyance of landed property.
c1386 CHAUCER Merch. T. 929 Min heritage, toun and tour, I give it yow, makith chartres as yow leste. 1641 Termes de la Ley 55 Charters of lands are writings, deeds, evidences, and instruments, made from one man to an other, upon some estate conveyed or passed between them of lands or tenements.