earmark
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɪəmɑːk/
ipa: /ˈɪ(ə)ɹˌmɑɹk/
text: -
Forms: form: earmarks
Etymology: The noun is derived from ear + mark. The verb is derived from the noun.
Senses: examples: text: Some mark them [sheep] vvith Raddle and make Ear-marks.
ref: 1725, [Noël] Chomel, “MARKING OF SHEEP”, in R[ichard] Bradley, editor, Dictionaire Oeconomique: Or, The Family Dictionary. […], volume II (I–Z), London: […] D[aniel] Midwinter, […], →OCLC, signature Llll2, recto, column 1:
topics: agriculture
business
lifestyle
synonyms: lugmark
hyponyms: ear tag
glosses: A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership, health or gestation status, etc.
examples: text: [H]e ſhoulde be dyſcryued by hys rounding and his eare marke: […]
ref: 1551, Thomas More, “The Fyrste Boke of the Communycacion of Raphaell Hythlodaye Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC, signature [D.viii.], verso:
text: Mr. Bayes, many as proper a man as your ſelf march'd up Holborn for diſtinguiſhing betvvixt the VVealth and the Fanatick: and moreover let me tell you, Fanatick Money hath no Ear-mark.
ref: 1672, [Andrew Marvell], The Rehearsal Transpros’d: Or, Animadversions upon a Late Book, Entituled, A Preface, Shewing what Grounds there are of Fears and Jealousies of Popery, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 151:
text: VVe are likevviſe all agreed that if the goods had remain in ſpecie unſold in the bankrupt's hands at the time of the bankruptcy, the plaintiffs might have recovered them in an action of trover, and that they could not be applied to pay the bankrupt's debts, […] [W]hy are goods conſidered ſtill as the ovvners? becauſe they remain in ſpecie, and ſo may be diſtinguiſhed from the reſt of the bankrupt's eſtate. But as money has no earmark, it cannot be diſtinguiſhed.
ref: 1743 February 21 (date decided; Gregorian calendar), [John] Willes, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, “Jonathan Scott and Francis Richardson against Robert Surman Salem Owne and John Cruickshank, Assignees of Richard Scott a Bankrupt”, in Charles Durnford, editor, Reports of Adjudged Cases in the Court of Common Pleas during the Time Lord Chief Justice Willes Presided in that Court; […], London: […] A. Strahan, […], for J[oseph] Butterworth, […], published 1799, →OCLC, page 404:
text: I am inclined to think that his most besetting sin in style,—the little earmark by which he is most conspicuous,—is a certain affected familiarity.
ref: 1879, Anthony Trollope, “Thackeray’s Style and Manner of Work”, in John Morley, editor, Thackeray (English Men of Letters; 10), London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 201:
text: […] I saw in my patient one of the most forbidding men I have ever met. He had all the earmarks of a criminal.
ref: 1959, Brunettie Burrow, Angels in White, San Antonio, Tex.: Naylor, →OCLC, page 112:
glosses: A distinguishing or identifying mark or sign; specifically (archaic), a mark of ownership.
topics: business
finance
hyponyms: lettermark
phonemark
glosses: An act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose; specifically (US, politics), a designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.
Related terms: expenditure
pork barrel