hallmark
[ hawl-mahrk ]
/ ˈhɔlˌmɑrk /
noun
an official mark or stamp indicating a standard of purity, used in marking gold and silver articles assayed by the Goldsmiths' Company of London; plate mark.
any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.
any distinguishing feature or characteristic: Accuracy is a hallmark of good scholarship.
verb (used with object)
to stamp or imprint (something) with a hallmark.
Origin of hallmark
1715–25; Goldsmiths'
Hall, London, the seat of the Goldsmiths' Company +
mark1
OTHER WORDS FROM hallmark
hall·mark·er, nounWords nearby hallmark
halley's comet,
halliard,
hallie,
halling,
hallion's test,
hallmark,
hallo,
halloa,
halloo,
hallopeau's disease,
halloumi
Example sentences from the Web for hallmark
British Dictionary definitions for hallmark
hallmark
/ (ˈhɔːlˌmɑːk) /
noun
British
an official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths at one of its assay offices on gold, silver, or platinum (since 1975) articles to guarantee purity, date of manufacture, etc
a mark or sign of authenticity or excellence
an outstanding or distinguishing feature
verb
(tr)
to stamp with or as if with a hallmark
Also (for senses 1, 4):
platemark
Word Origin for hallmark
C18: named after Goldsmiths'
Hall in London, where items were graded and stamped