3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debenture  \De*ben"ture\  (?;  135),  n.  [L.  debentur  they  are  due, 
  fr  debere  to  owe;  cf  F.  debentur.  So  called  because  these 
  receipts  began  with  the  words  Debentur  mihi.] 
  1.  A  writing  acknowledging  a  debt;  a  writing  or  certificate 
  signed  by  a  public  officer,  as  evidence  of  a  debt  due  to 
  some  person;  the  sum  thus  due. 
 
  2.  A  customhouse  certificate  entitling  an  exporter  of 
  imported  goods  to  a  drawback  of  duties  paid  on  their 
  importation.  --Burrill. 
 
  Note:  It  is  applied  in  England  to  deeds  of  mortgage  given  by 
  railway  companies  for  borrowed  money;  also  to  municipal 
  and  other  bonds  and  securities  for  money  loaned. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debenture  \De*ben"ture\,  n. 
  Any  of  various  instruments  issued,  esp.  by  corporations,  as 
  evidences  of  debt.  Such  instruments  (often  called 
 
  {debenture  bonds})  are  generally,  through  not  necessarily, 
  under  seal,  and  are  usually  secured  by  a  mortgage  or  other 
  charge  upon  property;  they  may  be  registered  or 
  unregistered.  A  debenture  secured  by  a  mortgage  on 
  specific  property  is  called  a 
 
  {mortgage  debenture};  one  secured  by  a  floating  charge  (which 
  see),  a 
 
  {floating  debenture};  one  not  secured  by  any  charge 
 
  {a  naked  debenture}.  In  general  the  term  debenture  in  British 
  usage  designates  any  security  issued  by  companies  other 
  than  their  shares,  including,  therefore,  what  are  in  the 
  United  States  commonly  called  {bonds}.  When  used  in  the 
  United  States  debenture  generally  designates  an  instrument 
  secured  by  a  floating  charge  junior  to  other  charges 
  secured  by  fixed  mortgages,  or  specif.,  one  of  a  series 
  of  securities  secured  by  a  group  of  securities  held  in 
  trust  for  the  benefit  of  the  debenture  holders. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  debenture 
  n  1:  a  bond  that  is  backed  by  the  credit  of  the  issuer  but  not  by 
  any  specific  collateral  [syn:  {unsecured  bond},  {debenture 
  bond}]  [ant:  {secured  bond}] 
  2:  a  certificate  or  voucher  acknowledging  a  debt 

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