Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - notary public

 noun  (plural notaries public or ~s)  Etymology: Middle English notary clerk, ~, from Latin notarius clerk, secretary, from notarius of shorthand, from nota note, shorthand character  Date: 15th century a public officer who attests or certifies writings (as a deed) to make them authentic and takes affidavits, depositions, and protests of negotiable paper — called also notary