Indenture

(53), n. [L. Lat. indentura, O. Fr. endenture. See INDENT.]

1Sense 1. The act of indenting, or the state of being indented.

2Sense 2. (Law.) A mutual agreement in writing between two or more parties, whereof each party has usually a part.

☞ Indentures were originally duplicates, laid together and indented, so that the two papers or parchments corresponded to each other. But indenting has gradually become a mere form, and is often neglected, while the writings or counterparts retain the name of indentures.

To run in and out; to be cut or notched; to indent. Heywood.