De-bĕn’ture, n.
(53), n. [O. Fr. debentur, receipts given by officers of the king on payment of their salaries, from Lat. debentur, debere, to owe, because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi.]
Sense 1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person: the sum thus due.
Sense 2. A custom-house certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burritt.
It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and securities for money loaned.