'indenture' originates from Medieval Latin 'indentura' and Old French 'indenture', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'in' or 'into' and the root related to Latin 'dens, dent-' meant 'tooth' (referring to a notch or tooth-like cut).

'indenture' changed from Medieval Latin 'indentura' and Old French 'indenture' into Middle English (often spelled 'indenture') and eventually became the modern English word 'indenture'.

Initially, it referred to a 'notch' or 'tooth-like' incision used to match duplicate documents; over time the term came to denote the document itself — a formal contract or written agreement binding parties.