— charterable , adj. — charterage , n. — charterer , n. — charterless , adj.
/chahr"teuhr/ , n.
1. a document, issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under which a corporation, colony, city, or other corporate body is organized, and defining its rights and privileges.
2. ( often cap. ) a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution: the Charter of the United Nations.
3. authorization from a central or parent organization to establish a new branch, chapter, etc.
4. a grant by a sovereign power creating a corporation, as the royal charters granted to British colonies in America.
5. Also called charter party . a contract by which part or all of a ship is leased for a voyage or a stated time.
6. a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement: The travel agency is offering charters to Europe and the Caribbean.
7. special privilege or immunity.
v.t.
8. to establish by charter: to charter a bank.
9. to lease or hire for exclusive use: The company will charter six buses for the picnic.
10. to give special favor or privilege to.
adj.
11. of or pertaining to a method of travel in which the transportation is specially leased or hired for members of a group or association: a charter flight to Europe.
12. that can be leased or hired for exclusive or private use: a charter boat for deep-sea fishing.
13. done or held in accordance with a charter: a charter school.
[ 1200-50; ME chartre chartul ( a ) little paper (by assimilation), equiv. to chart ( a ) (see CHARTA) + -ula -ULE ]
Syn. 9. See hire .