Also 6 cyro-, 6–7 ciro-, chyro-. [partly ad. F. chirographaire, ad. late L. chīrographārius; partly Eng. formation like geograph-er and the like.]
1. Law. The officer appointed to ‘engross fines’ (chirographs), in the Court of Common Pleas. (Abolished in 1833.)
[1285. Act 13 Edw. I., c. 44. De Cirographariis pro cirographo faciendo.]
1400. Act 2 Hen. IV., c. 8 § 1. Loffice de Cirogrofer en la Comone bank du Roi est lessez a ferme.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1609), 64. The Cirographer … maketh Indentures tripertite.
1581. Act 23 Eliz., c. 3 § 7. The Chirographer of Fynes of the Common Plees for the tyme being.
1594. West, Symbol., II. § 61. Delivered to the Cyrographer of fines to be ingrossed and proclaimed.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 62/1. In the Courts of Common Pleas … the Chyrographer doth Enter and Ingrose Fines acknowledged.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 351. There are indentures made, or engrossed, at the chirographer’s office, and delivered to the cognizor and the cognizee.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors (1857), II. xxxviii. 144. The wealthy sinecure of Chirographer of the Common Pleas.
2. ‘He that exercises or professes the art or business of handwriting’ (Johnson, 1755); a copying clerk.
1847. [M. W. Savage], Bachelor of Albany (1848), 216. The seedy and dilapidated appearance of the old chirographer.
