ticket, voucher

券 is composed of 龹(roll) above and 刀(knife) below. 龹 depicts the action of two hands kneading and rolling something into a ball, conveying the idea of joining or fitting together, while 刀 suggests cutting or dividing. In ancient times, contracts were typically inscribed on wooden or bamboo slips, then split in two with a knife; each party kept one half. When the time came to verify the agreement, the two halves were fitted back together to prove its validity. Thus the original meaning of 券 is contract, and it later extended to refer to any kind of certificate, ticket, or bond that serves as proof.