bill of exchange

A written order in which a drawer orders a drawee to pay a specified sum to a payee. For example, a check is a bill of exchange drawn on a bank or banker. Once signed and endorsed, it becomes negotiable and can be discounted (sold for cash before the maturity date under face value) at current short-term interest rates.

In the US, major corporations make use of short-term ‘paper’ to meet general financial obligations as well as foreign trade transactions.