Earmark

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Earmark \Ear"mark`\ ([=e]r"m[aum]rk`), n.
     1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by
        cropping or slitting.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Money is said to have no earmark.     --Wharton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the
              rounding of his head, and his earmark. --Robynson
                                                    (More's
                                                    Utopia).
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon
              them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.
                                                    --Burrow.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Earmark \Ear"mark`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Earmarked}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Earmarking}.]
     1. To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To designate or reserve for a specific purpose; as, the
        alumni fund was earmarked for dormitory construction.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  earmark
       n 1: identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
       2: a distinctive characteristic or attribute [syn: {hallmark},
          {trademark}, {stylemark}]
       v : give or assign a share of money or time to a particular
           person or cause; "I will earmark this money for your
           research" [syn: {allow}, {appropriate}, {set aside}, {reserve}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  156 Moby Thesaurus words for "earmark":
     allocate, allot, appoint, appropriate to, aroma, assign, assign to,
     attribute, badge, banner, be characteristic, birthmark, blaze,
     blemish, blotch, brand, cachet, cast, caste mark, character,
     characteristic, characterize, check, checkmark, cicatrix,
     configuration, cut, dapple, define, demarcate, describe, destine,
     detail, device, differentia, differential, differentiate,
     discoloration, distinctive feature, distinguish, dot, engraving,
     fate, feature, figure, flavor, fleck, flick, freckle, gash,
     graving, gust, hack, hallmark, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, image,
     impress, impression, index, indicant, indicator, individualism,
     insignia, jot, keynote, label, lentigo, lineaments, lot, macula,
     make assignments, mannerism, mark, mark off, mark out,
     mark out for, marking, measure, mold, mole, mottle, nature, nevus,
     nick, notch, note, odor, ordain, particularity, patch, peculiarity,
     picture, point, polka dot, portion off, prick, property, puncture,
     quality, quirk, representation, representative, reserve, restrict,
     restrict to, savor, scar, scarification, schedule, score, scotch,
     scratch, scratching, seal, set, set apart, set aside, set off,
     set the pace, set the tone, shape, sigil, sign, signal, signature,
     singularity, smack, sound the keynote, specialty, speck, speckle,
     splash, splotch, spot, stain, stamp, stigma, strawberry mark,
     sure sign, symptom, tab, tag, taint, tang, taste, tattoo,
     tattoo mark, telltale sign, tick, ticket, tittle, token, trait,
     trick, watermark