[L. charta, carta papyrus, a leaf of papyrus, paper, a paper, writing, document, ad. Gr. χάρτις a leaf of papyrus or paper. The common med.L. for legal writing, charter.]
† 1. In OE. form carta: Paper, letter. (Later only as Latin.) Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 202. Alecʓe ða sealfe on hatne claþ oððe cartan.
c. 1000. Nicod., xx. Hiʓ hym tosendon ane cartan, seo wæs þus awriten.
2. A CHARTER. Also used fig.
1698. Norris, Treat. Sev. Subj., 329. The Divine Law, which is her Original Charta.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., line 532. And if, ne’ertheless That good day’s sun delivered to the vines No charta.
b. esp. in MAGNA CHARTA, the Great Charter of English Liberties.
