Hypertext Webster Gateway: "earmark"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Earmark \Ear"mark`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Earmarked}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Earmarking}.]
To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Earmark \Ear"mark`\, n.
1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by
cropping or slitting.
2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
Money is said to have no earmark. --Wharton.
Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the
rounding of his head, and his earmark. --Robynson
(More's
Utopia).
A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon
them, no tokens of a particular proprietor.
--Burrow.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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}]
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