Chirograph Definition: A medieval form of contract which allowed for several verifiable authentic versions. Related Terms: Seal The form of a chirograph, which set out the terms of a contract, came from the need to make an authentic copy of the contract available to all parties, specially when the contract involved real property or the use of land to secure a loan. The contract was written out twice or three times on a single parchment which then had through it the Latin word chirographum written between the copies. The document was then cut irregularly, often in simple zig-zag, through the word and each party given a piece of the original. By later aligning the pieces like a simple jigsaw puzzle, a subsequent observor, such as a Court of law, could ascertain the authenticity of the whole. The process also made forgery and counterfeiting difficult. REFERENCES: Duhaime, Lloyd, Contract Law Dictionary Duhaime, Lloyd, LawMuseum Image of a chirograph is from the Museum and Library of Hildesheim, Germany Lincoln, F. Ashe, The Starra: Their Effect on Early English Law and Administration (London: Oxford University Press, 1939). Categories & Topics: Ancient Common Law Dictionary Contract Law Dictionary Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!