indenture

Meanings

Noun

• A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
• A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying such a contract.
• An indentation.

Verb

• To bind a person under such a contract.
• To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.

Origin

• From Anglo-Norman endenture, from Old French endenteure, from endenter.