Debt Instrument

It's called a bond. Not James. And it simply refers to one of the myriad forms or legal structures under which people and companies borrow money.

Muni bond? Debt instrument. Corporate junk bond? Debt instrument. Promissory note to pay back Gramma the $1,000 she loaned you so you could finally remove the Sheila tattoo on your heiney? Priceless. (And also a promissory note.)

And you have to admit that calling them "instruments" really does make the notion of borrowing money somehow seem...classy or something. Something elevated. Like a violinist playing the markets on-key. "Neither a debt instrument borrower, nor a lender be...?" Something like that.