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 genuineness
2 : a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature <the dramatic flourishes which are the hallmark of the trial lawyer — Marion K. Sanders>