chirograph

Meaning

1. A kind of medieval document written in duplicate (or more) on a single piece of parchment, then cut across a single word, so that each holder of a portion can prove it matches the others.
2. A papal decree whose circulation, unlike an encyclical, is limited to the Roman curia.
3. (obsolete) The last part of a fine of land; the "foot of the fine".

Synonyms

charter

handwriting

written document

Etymology

From Middle French chirographe, from Ancient Greek χειρόγραφος (kheirógraphos, “written with the hand”) χείρ (kheír, “hand”) + γράφω (gráphō, “write”).