Main Entry:

¹hall·mark

Pronunciation:

\ˈhȯl-ˌmärk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Goldsmiths' Hall, London, England, where gold and silver articles were assayed and stamped

Date:

1721

1 a: an official mark stamped on gold and silver articles in England to attest their purity b: a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness2: a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature <the dramatic flourishes which are the hallmark of the trial lawyer — Marion K. Sanders>