Etymologically
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charter

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 10:25. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈt͡ʃɑːtə/ (UK); /ˈt͡ʃɑɹtɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English chartre, borrowed from Old French chartre (“charter, document, covenant”),[2][3][4][5] from Latin chartula (“little paper”), a diminutive of charta (“paper, document”) (see chart and card).[2][3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A written document granting rights or privileges: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle;[2] the OED has a charter granting privileges from before 1250.[7]

Semantic evolution

A charter creating or incorporating a borough, university or company is from 1474.[7] A deed conveying land is from about 1386.[7] The People's Charter of the Chartists was published in 1838.[7] The verb, to grant a charter, is Scots from about 1425,[2] and to hire a ship or vehicle by contract from 1806.[2][3] An aircraft or trip hired for a special purpose is a charter from 1922.[3] In Nottinghamshire dialect a charter was an ancient custom or privilege.[8]

Timeline

  • before 1200 – a grant of rights.[2]
  • c. 1425 – the verb.[2]
  • 1474 – a charter of incorporation.[7]
  • 1806 – to hire.[2][3]
  • 1838 – the People's Charter.[7]
  • 1922 – a chartered aircraft.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A formal document from a ruler or government granting rights or creating an institution such as a city, university or company.
  2. A written statement of the principles or aims of an organization.
  3. The hire of a ship, aircraft or vehicle for a special purpose.

Verb

  1. To hire a ship, aircraft or vehicle.
  2. To grant a charter to.

Word family

  • charterer
  • charterable
  • charterage
  • charterless
  • charterhouse
  • Chartism
  • Chartist
  • subcharter

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)