HALLMARK
hallmark, trademark, earmark, stylemark
(noun) a distinctive characteristic or attribute
authentication, hallmark, assay-mark
(noun) a mark on an article of trade to indicate its origin and authenticity
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
hallmark (plural hallmarks)
A distinguishing characteristic.
An official marking made by a trusted party, usually an assay office, on items made of precious metals.
Verb
hallmark (third-person singular simple present hallmarks, present participle hallmarking, simple past and past participle hallmarked)
To provide or stamp with a hallmark.
Proper noun
Hallmark (plural Hallmarks)
A surname.
Statistics
• According to the 2010 United States Census, Hallmark is the 7517th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 4426 individuals. Hallmark is most common among White (94.04%) individuals.
Source: Wiktionary
Hall"-mark`, n.
Definition: The official stamp of the Goldsmiths' Company and other assay
offices, in the United Kingdom, on gold and silver articles,
attesting their purity. Also used figuratively; -- as, a word or
phrase lacks the hall-mark of the best writers.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition