chirograph

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

CHIROGRAPH, noun 1. Anciently a deed, which, requiring a counterpart, was engrossed twice on the same piece of parchment, with a space between, in which was written chirograph through which the parchment was cut, and one part given to each party. It answered to what is now called a charter-party. 2. A fine, so called from the manner of engrossing, which is still retained in the chirographers office in England.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

More founding-era words: liberty · virtue · republic · justice · providence · commerce · militia · arms · prudence · establishment · religion · usurpation · tyranny · citizen · unalienable · sovereign