EARMARKING

Verb

earmarking

present participle of earmark

Noun

earmarking (plural earmarkings)

An earmark (identifying mark on the ear of an animal).

An earmark (funding designation).

Source: Wiktionary

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.

Ear"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Earmarking.]

Definition: To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition