noun
certificate; authorization; certified document
A formal document that certifies or authorizes something, often with an official seal. Can be used literally for a signed paper or figuratively for an endorsement.
See also: お墨付き
この墨付きがあれば、正式に許可されたことになる。
With this certificate, it means you have been officially authorized.
noun
Figurative use: an endorsement or approval, often from an authority or respected person. Frequently used in the phrase お墨付きをもらう (to get the seal of approval).
社長のお墨付きをもらった企画だ。
It's a project that has the president's seal of approval.
noun
paper with a shogun or lord's signature
Historical term: originally referred to a document bearing the signature or seal of a shogun or feudal lord, granting authority or permission.
See also: お墨付き
江戸時代、墨付きは将軍の権威を示す重要な文書だった。
In the Edo period, a sumitsuki was an important document that showed the shogun's authority.
Polite form with お- prefix; often used in the figurative 'seal of approval' sense. 墨付き without お can be used for the literal certificate or historical document.
From 墨 (sumi, 'ink') + 付き (tsuki, 'attached'), referring to a document marked with ink, i.e., a signed or sealed paper.