hallmark

== English == === Etymology === 1721. From hall +‎ mark, from Goldsmiths' Hall in London, the site of the assay office, official stamp of purity in gold and silver articles. The general sense of “mark of quality” first recorded 1864. Use as a verb from 1773. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɔːlmɑːk/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɔlmɑɹk/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): [ˈhɑɫmɑɹk] Hyphenation: hall‧mark === Noun === hallmark (plural hallmarks) (figurative) A distinguishing characteristic. An official marking made by a trusted party, usually an assay office, on items made of precious metals. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === hallmark (third-person singular simple present hallmarks, present participle hallmarking, simple past and past participle hallmarked) To provide or stamp with a hallmark. ==== Translations ==== === See also === benchmark