Indent

To cut in the shape of teeth. Deeds of indenture were anciently written on the same parchment or paper as many times as there were parties to the instrument, the word chirographum being written between, and then the several copies cut apart in a zigzag or notched line (whence the name), part of the word chirographum (q. v.) being on either side of it; and each party kept a copy. The later practice was to cut the top or side of the deed in a waving or notched line; 2 Bla. Com. 295. To bind by indentures; to apprentice; as, to indent a young man to a shoemaker. Webster, Diet. In American Law. An indented certificate issued by the government of the United States at the close of the revolution for the principal or interest of the public debt. Ramsay, Hamilton, Webster; Eliot, Funding System 35; U. S. v. Irwin, 5 McLean 178, Fed. Cas. No. 15,445; Acts of April 30, 1790, sess. 2, c. 9, § 14, and of March 3, 1825, sess. 2, c. 65, § 17. The word is no longer in use in this sense.

n.

In American law. A certificate or indented certificate Issued by the government of the United States at the close of the Revolution, for the principal or interest of the public debt. Webster. See U. S. v. Irwin, 26 Fed. Cas. 546.

v. To cut in a serrated or waving line. In old conveyancing, if a deed Was made by more parties than one, it was usual to make as many copies of it as there were parties, and each was cut or indented (either in acute angles, like the teeth of a saw, or in a waving line) at the top or side, to tally or correspond with the others, and the deed so made was called an "indenture." Anciently, both parts were written on the same pieco of parchment, with some word or letters written between them through which the parchment was cut, but afterwards, the word or letters being omitted, indenting came into use, the idea of which was that the genuineness of each part might be proved by its fitting into the angles cut in the other. But at length even this was discontinued, and at present the term serves only to give name to the species of deed executed by two or more parties, as opposed to a deed-poll, (q. v.) 2 Bl. Comm. 295. To bind by indentures; to apprentice; as to indent a young man to a shoe-maker. Webster.

Literally, to make in teeth; to cut in the form of teeth; in old conveyancing, to cut through parchment or paper in a line composed of a series of uniform points or angles like the teeth of a saw; in modern conveyancing, to cut in a waving line the edge or margin of the paper or parchment on which an indenture is, written; to bind by indenture; to bind as an apprentice. Indented: bound by indenture;

mz. In Americanlaw. <A certificate or indented certificate issued by the government of the United States at the close of the Revolution, for the principal or interest of the public debt. Webster,