CHARGE PLATES Meaning and
Definition
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Charge plates are small, typically rectangular pieces of metal or plastic that serve as a form of identification for the holder and facilitate transactions on credit. These plates replaced the use of cash or checks in the early 20th century, before credit cards became widespread.
They are issued by businesses or financial institutions, often in partnership with specific merchants, and bear the name and account information of the individual to whom it is assigned. Charge plates also display the logo or emblem of the issuing institution.
To initiate a transaction using a charge plate, the holder would present it to the merchant along with the desired merchandise or services. The merchant would then use an imprinter, a device that transfers the information from the charge plate onto a sales slip, along with the transaction details such as date, amount, and merchant's information. The customer would sign the sales slip as an agreement to pay the amount charged.
Charge plates are unique to each individual and require identification verification during transactions. Once the transaction is complete, the merchant retains a copy of the sales slip for their records, while the customer keeps the duplicate copy for their reference.
With the advent of credit cards and electronic payment systems, charge plates are now considered outdated, though they played a significant role in the history and evolution of transactional mechanisms.
Common Misspellings for CHARGE PLATES
- xharge plates
- vharge plates
- fharge plates
- dharge plates
- cgarge plates
- cbarge plates
- cnarge plates
- cjarge plates
- cuarge plates
- cyarge plates
- chzrge plates
- chsrge plates
- chwrge plates
- chqrge plates
- chaege plates
- chadge plates
- chafge plates
- chatge plates
- cha5ge plates
- cha4ge plates
Etymology of CHARGE PLATES
The etymology of the term "charge plates" can be understood by examining the meanings and origins of its individual components.
The word "charge" originated from Middle English and derives from the Old French word "chargier", which means "to load" or "to burden". It can be traced back to the Latin word "carricāre", meaning "to load a vehicle" or "to load with a weight".
On the other hand, "plates" refers to the flat, typically circular dishware commonly used for serving food. The word "plate" itself has Ancient Greek origins, derived from the word "plátys", which means "flat".
When combined, "charge plates" can thus be understood as a term used to describe flat dishware used for serving food in an official setting, with the implication that they are associated with a formal charging or billing process.
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