charter

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
charter/ˈtʃɑːtə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 a written grant by a sovereign or legislature, by which a body such as a university is created or its rights and privileges defined.

• 2 a written constitution or description of an organization's functions.

• 3 (in the UK) a written statement of the rights of a specified group of people: the patient's charter.

• 4 the hiring of an aircraft, ship, or motor vehicle.

▶verb

• 1 (usu. as adj. chartered) grant a charter to (a city, university, etc.).

• 2 hire (an aircraft, ship, or motor vehicle).

– derivatives
charterer noun.

– origin ME: from OFr. chartre, from L. chartula, dimin. of charta (see card1).