chartern.1
/ˈtʃɑːtə/, U.S. /ˈtʃɑrdər/ literal. A leaf of paper (in Old English called bóc, book n.); a legal document or ‘deed’ written (usually) upon a single sheet of paper, parchment, or other material, by which grants, cessions, contracts, and other transactions are confirmed and ratified.† 4. As a rendering of Latin charta taken: Paper; a paper, writing, letter, document, etc. Obsolete. rare.
1292 Britton ii. viii De chartres. Quant al garnement de escrit, qe home apele chartre, fet a saver qe en moutz des maneres sount chartres.
1. A written document delivered by the sovereign or legislature:† b. granting pardon. Hence to have one's charter = to receive pardon. Obsolete.
a. granting privileges to, or recognizing rights of, the people, or of certain classes or individuals. Great Charter, that signed by King John guaranteeing the fundamental liberties of the English people: see Magna Carta n. Charter of the Forest (Charta Forestæ), a charter conceded by Henry III in 1217, and revised 1224, restraining the severity of the forest laws of previous reigns.
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society > law > legal right > [noun] > document conferring right or privilege
privilegec1240
charter?a1250
patentc1387
diplomaa1658
brevet1689
charta1698
codicil1781
?a1250 [Forged] Charter Æðelstan dated 939 in Cod. Dipl. V. 235 Ich Æðelstan..grantye and confirmye by ðisse minre chartre.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 77 Þe emperour with god cartre, & mid ys owne cel, Hym ȝef of þe se..þe warde..Þis false mon wende þo mid his cartre a-boute.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 498 Alle hor chartren ywis, That adde of is fader..Of franchise & of other thing, al clene were vndo.
1520 Chron. Eng. vii. f. 88v/1 The Kynge made to them two charters..the great chartrye of fraunchyses, and..the charter of forest.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Fiii/1 A Charter, diploma.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. i. 47 Our substitutes at home shall haue blanke charters, Whereto..They shal subscribe them for large summes of gold. View more context for this quotation
a1601 W. Lambarde Archion (1635) 266 The great Charter of England..for which the Englishmen had no lesse striven, then the Troians for their Hellena.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xxvi. 150 Charters are Donations of the Soveraign; and not Lawes, but exemptions from Law.
1766 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. i. 135 The language of the great charter is, that no freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, but by the lawful judgment of his equals, or by the law of the land.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) III. 163 When King Edward I. created the Black Prince Duke of Cornwall, he gave him a charter, by which he granted to him the name and honour of Duke of Cornwall.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi III. x. i. 250 There is but one nobility, and Nature signs its charter.
1846 T. Arnold Hist. Rome I. x. 179 The second great charter of Roman liberties.
1875 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. II. xiv. 27 The Charter of the Forest..was a great measure of relief; the inhabitants of the counties not living within the forests are released from the duty of attending the courts except on special summons; the forests made in the last two reigns are disafforested; much of the vexatious legislation of Henry II is annulled.
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society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > acquittal or clearing of accusation > [noun] > pardon > document conveying
chartera1300
pardona1616
a1300 Havelok 676 And with þi chartre make [me] fre.
1413 J. Lydgate Pilgr. of Sowle (1859) i. xxxiv. 38 Oure lordes graunt and chartre of pardon.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cclii. 323 Maister John hume had his chartre and was pardoned by the kyng.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. ccxxv Whan they shulde haue been hanged there Chartours were shewyd, and so preseruyd.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. QQQiiiiv Why almyghty god shulde gyue his..charter of pardon to man.
a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 53 If a man be attainted and have a Charter of pardon.
c. creating or incorporating a borough, university, company, or other corporation.
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society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > document creating a corporation
foundation1389
charter1474
incorporationa1600
bank charter1736
1474 Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV in Enactments Parl. conc. Univ. Oxf. & Cambr. (1869) 8 Among certeyn liberties and privileges by charters..graunted unto the Chaunceller and Scolers of the said universite.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 38 If you deny it, let the danger light vpon your charter and your Citties freedome. View more context for this quotation
1680 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 78 The University will be at large to act according to the utmost extent of their charter.
1684 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 136 Ye University concern is about ye town carter..to induce them to surrender it, ye Earle of Abington promised them ye addition of several new grants.
1724 G. Berkeley Proposal supplying Churches 7 If his majesty would graciously please to grant a charter for a college.
1765–9 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (1793) 204 The king's charter either creating new or reviving old boroughs.
1817 W. Selwyn Abridgem. Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 888 The Royal Exchange Assurance and the London Assurance Companies were established by charters, bearing date the 22d day of June, 1720.
1845 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 I. viii. 497 The main question..was the renewal of the Company's charter.
1861 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilization Eng. II. viii. 575 The earliest charter was granted to an English town in the twelfth century.
d. People's Charter: the name given to the famous document (published 8 May 1838) embodying the principles and demands of the Chartists.
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society > authority > rule or government > politics > British politics > [noun] > Chartism > document embodying
People's Charter1838
1838 W. Lovett Address (issued in Mar. or Apr.) In the course of a few weeks this Bill will be prepared and printed for circulation, under the title of ‘The People's Charter’.
1838 Northern Star (Leeds) 6 Aug. 7/2 That this meeting cordially approves of the People's Charter as the outline of an Act to provide for the general representation of the people..in Parliament.
1845 Penny Cycl. Suppl. I. 331/2 The ‘People's Charter’. The principal points of this proposed charter are, universal suffrage, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, the division of the country into equal electoral districts, the abolition of property qualification in members, and paying them for their services.
1877 C. Mackay Forty Years' Recoll. II. 50 The Charter—a document exceedingly well drawn up—derived its name from the French Charter of 1830.
2. A written evidence, instrument, or contract executed between man and man:
a. gen.
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society > law > legal document > [noun]
writlOE
charterc1270
writingc1384
paper1389
monument1405
instrument1426
cartec1449
chart1616
diploma1645
diplome1669
expedition1685
law-writings1701
chirograph1844
c1270 Saints' Lives (Laud) (1887) 290 Þe chartre he wrouȝte sone And a-selede hire with is ryng.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 122 For may no cherle chartre make ne his catel selle, With-outen leue of his lorde.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 78/1 And toke a chartre and wrote the conscrypcion of the wedlok.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clvi 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.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) xii. sig. Biiv Ye shall gyue to Perron your wyfe this nyght ye chartes of her endowry.
1786 R. Burns Poems 85 But first hang out that she'll discern Your hymeneal Charter.
1847 C. G. Addison Treat. Law Contracts i. i. 19 The Normans..caused the ancient Saxon contracts and writings to be sealed..and gave them the name of charters or Deeds.
b. applied esp. to the documents or deeds relating to conveyance of landed property.
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society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > charter or deed conveying property > [noun] > charter or deed conveying land
land-boc961
bookOE
bookingOE
charterc1386
c1386 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 929 Min heritage, toun and tour, I give it yow, makith chartres as yow leste.
1641 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) f. 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.
1656 H. Phillippes Purchasers Pattern (1676) 2 Make thy Charter run To thee, thine Heirs.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) I. 259 In Madox's collection of ancient charters there are some leases..which considerably exceed that period.
1885 L. Goodeve Real Prop. 286 A record of the gift or alienation [of land], called the Charter of Feoffment.
c. spec. A document embodying the contract between owners and merchants for the hire of a ship and safe delivery of the cargo; more fully charter-party n. Also, the contract thus made.
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society > law > legal obligation > contract > [noun] > written contract or text of > for hire of ship and delivery of cargo
charter-party1539
charter1794
charter-bond1836
1794 in Ld. Nelson Dispatches & Lett. (1845) I. 428 He was under no Charter. Customary clause in Charter-parties, The Brokerage on this Charter is at the rate of Five per cent.
d. Used attributively of or pertaining to an aircraft hired by contract for a particular purpose, or to a flight in such an aircraft, or to a business firm using such aircraft, etc.
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society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > [adjective] > type of flight or service
non-scheduled1855
charter1922
standby1946
walk-on1959
red-eye1964
1922 Flight 14 522/1 In addition to this regular service 16 special-charter flights were made during this period.
1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose i. 2 He had two Austers for instruction and occasional charter flights.
1960 Guardian 26 July 5/4 A charter firm..flew the children free from Nice.
1964 Financial Times 3 Mar. 13/5 Nearly all British airlines..can be called charter airlines in that they will undertake charter flights if asked.
e. elliptical. An aircraft, boat, etc., available on charter; a charter holiday or flight.
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society > leisure > [noun] > a period of > holidays > specific type
summer vacation1507
public holiday1736
summer holiday1746
school holiday1777
Cook's tour1856
alcoholiday1877
busman's holiday1893
caravan holiday1899
caravanning holiday1924
staycation1944
spring break1956
farm stay1957
charter1959
ski pack1969
staycation2008
society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > [noun] > regularly timed journey > by or in specific type of service or class
charter1959
tourist flight1959
sked1972
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > [noun] > aircraft for goods or passengers
liner1905
tramp1905
airliner1908
taxi1909
taxi plane1909
air ferry1916
air freighter1919
passenger plane1919
air taxi1920
freighter1920
flying boxcar1932
ferry1939
shuttle plane1944
day coach1945
feeder liner1946
charter1959
night coach1959
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > [noun] > hired vessel
charter1979
1959 Aviation Week 14 Dec. 36/2 Plenitude of piston equipment for charters as most carriers waited for jets.
1961 Daily Mail 15 June 4 We don't normally do charters.
1969 Which? Feb. 62/1 (heading) Why charters can be cheaper.
1974 K. Millett Flying (1975) ii. 181 It is Steven who finds the signs for the obscure North Terminal where the charters are.
1979 United States 1980–1 (Penguin Travel Guides) 186 Best for fishing is Galveston..off piers or from deep-sea charters.
1984 New Yorker 14 May 42/3 I was driving a charter to New Orleans.
3. Privilege; immunity; publicly conceded right.
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society > morality > dueness or propriety > [noun] > right or moral entitlement > a right
rightOE
charter1571
enlargementa1616
rectitude1660
dominiona1797
1571 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (new ed.) ii. xiv. §1. 312 Ye haue a Chartare to speake what ye liste.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lviii. sig. E Be where you list, your charter is so strong. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. vii. 48 I must haue liberty Wiithall, as large a Charter as the winde. View more context for this quotation
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing x. 91 To impose names is part of the Peoples Charter.
a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) vi. 192 And mighty forms seizing a youthful Fancy Had given charter to irregular hopes.
1839 T. De Quincey Lake Reminisc. in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 97/1 One must grant a..charter of large enthusiasm to such an occasion.
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society > communication > writing > written text > writing on specific things > [noun] > on paper
chartera1382
paper1389
shed1510
schede1566
cartel1693
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job vii. 16 And the chartre taken [L. accepta charta], thei maden the conscripcioun of the wedloc.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Prov. Prol. Ioyne the epistil whom joyneth presthood; Ȝhe, the chartre twynne not [L. ne dividat charta], whom the looue of Crist knytteth.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
charter-beer n.
ΚΠ
a1661 W. Brereton Trav. (1844) 156 A kind of beer called Charter beer.
charter-box n.
ΚΠ
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits v. 86 If all remedy fails, right of revolution is at the bottom of his charter-box.
charter-chest n.
ΚΠ
1866 T. Carlyle Inaug. Addr. Edinb. 181 Compiled out of all kinds of parchments, charter-chests.
1881 J. Russell Haigs of Bemersyde 11 Those in the charter-chest of the family date from 1425 onwards.
charter-room n.
ΚΠ
1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. ix. 240 There's a parchment book..in the charter-room at Knockwinnock Castle.
C2. See also Charterhouse n., charter-land n., chartermaster n., charter-party n., Charter School n. † charter-horn n. Obsolete a horn used as a charter or instrument of conveyance.† charter-man n. Obsolete ? licentiate, ? licenser.† charter-patent n. Obsolete a letter-patent.† charter-tailzie n. Obsolete charter of entail: see tailye n.
charter-bond n. = charter-party n.
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society > law > legal obligation > contract > [noun] > written contract or text of > for hire of ship and delivery of cargo
charter-party1539
charter1794
charter-bond1836
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. ix. 248 He would forfeit his charter bond.
charter-boy n. a boy on the Charter-house foundation.
charter-brother n. an inmate and pensioner of the Charter-house.
charter-colony n. a colony founded by Royal Charter.
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society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > [noun] > aggregate of sovereign states under one rule > Commonwealth or former British Empire > dominion or colony of > types of
palatinate1669
charter-colony1767
Crown colony1824
white dominion1881
1767 Ann. Reg. 1766 41/1 There are several sorts of colonies in British America: the charter-colonies, the proprietary governments, and the King's colonies.
charter-day n. a day appointed by charter for some special purpose.
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the world > time > period > a day or twenty-four hours > [noun] > special or ceremonial days
Easter terma1387
station day1560
lecture-day1616
scarlet-day1632
charter-day1817
field day1821
Thing-day1875
1817 W. Selwyn Abridgem. Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 1007 Upon an omission to elect at the charter-day, or to do such acts as were by the charter required to be done at certain times..a forfeiture of the charter might be incurred, and the corporation dissolved.
charter-exemption n. exemption from taxes, etc. by Royal Charter.
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society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > tax > taxation > [noun] > exemption from taxes
kirset14..
pardon1444
charter-exemption1775
tax exemption1927
1775 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) XI. 85 The plea of charter-exemption drops.
charter-government n. a government founded by Royal Charter.
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] > other types of government
regency1643
myriarchy1650
responsible government1782
charter-government1796
co-government1834
minority government1859
internationalism1879
minority rule1886
Labour government1892
provisional government1916
paepae1937
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 293 The charter governments were empowered to enact laws, and no ratification by the king was necessary.
charter-hand n. = court-hand n.
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society > communication > writing > handwriting or style of > [noun] > legal
court-handa1616
chancery-hand1660
law-hand1731
secretary1770
charter-hand1888
1888 J. H. Hessels in Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 682/1 The court or charter hand was used for charters, title-deeds, papal bulls, &c.
1893 E. M. Thompson Handbk. Greek & Lat. Palaeogr. xix. 301 We find it convenient to treat the cursive or charter-hand as a separate branch of mediæval English writing apart from the literary or book-hand.
1954 N. Denholm-Young Handwriting in Eng. & Wales iv. 31 The term Court Hand..is nowadays used to denote the great variety of hands employed in everyday life, as opposed to book hands, from the twelfth to the fifteenth century... For a time the alternative..term Charter Hand was in vogue, chiefly perhaps among authors associated with the British Museum.
charter-hold n. (see charter-land n.).
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society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > a legal holding > [adjective] > held in freehold > types of
charter-hold1710
lifehold1767
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes iv. 203 His Charter-hold Lands.
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society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > charter or deed conveying property > [noun] > horn used as
charter-horn1774
1774 C. Lyttelton in Archæol. III. 22 Account of certain Charter-Horns in the Cathedral of Carlisle.
ΚΠ
1683 J. Dryden Vindication 23 The Charter-man in the very Title-page.
charter-park n. a park held by charter.
ΚΠ
1703 London Gaz. No. 3900/4 A Charter-Park walled about.
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society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent
lettersc1300
brevet1362
letters patenta1387
patentc1387
missive letter1444
missive bill1522
charter-patent1589
letters overt1717
missive letter1798
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. K4v I seale your charter pattent.
charter-system n. the system of working a mine by a chartermaster n.
ΚΠ
1864 Daily Tel. 26 Oct. ‘Doggies’ and ‘butties’, as they are called by the pitmen, work the mines for the owners, under terms of arrangement known as the ‘charter system’.
ΚΠ
1634 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 111 I cannot but think, seeing the ends of the earth are given to Christ (and Scotland is the end of the earth, and so we are in Christ's charter-talizie) but our Lord will keep His possession.
Draft additions 1997
Charter Mark n. in the U.K., an award granted to institutions for exceptional public service under the terms of the Citizen's Charter (see Citizen's Charter n. at citizen n. and adj. Compounds 3b).
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > token of victory or supreme excellence > [noun] > award for merit > to institution for public service
Charter Mark1991
1991 Economist 27 July 23/2 All public bodies taking part in the charter programme will be candidates to receive a ‘Chartermark’ where their services are deemed to be up to scratch... But in the public sector, without competition, name badges and chartermarks could soon be empty gimmicks.
1992 Observer 2 Feb. 16/1 (advt.) The Citizen's Charter sets a new Standard for public services. The Charter Mark recognises this Standard. If you think your organisation meets the Standard, why not apply for a Charter Mark?
1992 Private Eye 8 May 13/1 Such sound management has lead [sic] Dr John Roylance, chief executive of the United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT), to apply for a ‘charter mark’, the department of health's new gold standard of service provision.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† chartern.2
Obsolete.
A repository for charters or deeds.
ΚΠ
a1600 Aberdeen Reg. in J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (1825) 202/2 Ane tyne [tin] chartour weyand four pund tua unsis.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
charterv.
/ˈtʃɑːtə/, U.S. /ˈtʃɑrdər/ 1. transitive. To grant a charter to; to bestow or establish by charter.
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society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [verb (transitive)] > invest with franchise or privilege > by charter
charterc1425
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xxiii. 210 Þe thred Robert, charterit, and sesit eftyrwart..þat Lady.
1800 P. Colquhoun Treat. Commerce & Police R. Thames i. 5 The Russia Company..was chartered..in 1555.
1859 C. Barker Devel. Associative Princ. ii. 48 Early in the reign of Edward III..we find the Goldsmiths' Company chartered.
2. To privilege, license.
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society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [verb (transitive)] > invest with franchise or privilege
franchisea1325
privilegea1325
libertyc1425
charter1542
privilegiatea1575
endow1601
octroy1845
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 255v He was..chartreed or priuileged from bearyng almaner offices of charge.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc x. 719 If discipline be utterly Relax'd, Vice charter'd, Wickedness let loose.
1879 ‘G. Eliot’ College Breakfast Party in Macmillan's Mag. July 178 With spreading lands Where pleasure charters all.
3. To hire (a ship or aircraft) by charter-party. Hence colloquial to hire (a vehicle, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > hire [verb (transitive)] > a ship
charter1803
society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > hire [verb (transitive)] > an aircraft
charter1933
wet lease1962
1803 Gazetteer Scotl. at Glasgow They had no vessels of their own, but chartered vessels from Whitehaven, Bristol, [etc.].
1836 W. Irving Astoria III. 215 It was impossible to charter a ship for the purpose.
1862 J. H. Bennet Mentone & Biarritz as Winter Climates (ed. 2) App. 284 The carriage may be chartered for a given journey or for an indefinite period.
1869 ‘W. Bradwood’ The O.V.H. (1870) 191 To charter a dogcart for the afternoon.
1933 A. Huxley Let. 24 Mar. (1969) 368 Yesterday we joined a party of Americans in chartering an aeroplane to fly to Copan in Honduras, to see the great Maya ruins there.
Derivatives
ˈchartering n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > [noun] > hire of a ship
freightage1755
charterage1806
chartering1817
time charter1861
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. iv. i. 7 The Company preferred the hiring of ships, called chartering.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 July 5/2 Chartering limited to sailing vessels.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1?a1250
n.2a1600
v.c1425