sign-manual
[sign n. + manual a. 1.]
1. An autograph signature (esp. that of the sovereign) serving to authenticate a document.
| 1428 E.E. Wills 83 And þerto I point my signet and my syne manuell. 1459 Rolls Parlt. V. 351/2 All the Lordes..and every of theym..settyng therto his Seale and Signe manuell, as here under apperith. 1536 Wardr. Acc. Hen. VIII in Archæologia IX. 252 Geven under oure signe manuelle, at oure castille of Wyndesore. 1560 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 112 Thiese our Lettres signed with our signemanuell shalbe your sufficient warraunt. 1648 Chas. I Let. in Thoms Notes on Combe Martin (1902) 37 Giuen under our Sign Manuel At Court at Newport. 1688 Pennsylv. Arch. I. 103 Untill Wee shall send you New Orders under Our sign manual. 1724 Swift Drapier's Lett. iii. Wks. 1751 VIII. 325 Orders, and Directions,..have been issued under the Royal Sign Manual. 1764 T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. (1765) 344 They were distinguished by King James.., by a letter under his sign manual. 1818 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) IV. iv. 113 The Crown-room..was opened by certain Commissioners, under authority of a sign-manual. 1863 H. Cox Instit. iii. vi. 671 The Royal sign-manual, or signature of the Sovereign, is usually written on the upper-left-hand corner of the instrument. 1898 Bodley France iii. iii. II. 142 A personage..who, by his sign-manual, can soften the severity of the revenue officials. |
| fig. 1894 M. Dyan Man's Keeping (1899) 58 The handshake, sign-manual of fealty.., did not pass between them. |
2. A sign made with the hand or hands.
| 1841 Catlin N. Amer. Ind. (1844) I. xvi. 116 Commands which were uniformly given by signs manual. |