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prettygoodwordhallmark (HAWL-mark) - n., an official marking made by a trusted party, usually an assay office, on items made of precious metals; any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.; any distinguishing characteristic. v., to stamp or imprint with a hallmark.
The marking has been done for ages, but this term for it dates to around 1715, named after Goldsmiths' Hall, London, the seat of the Goldsmiths' Company, which does the assaying and marking for gold and silver in England (and possibly the rest of the United Kingdom? -- my sources are unclear on this). The verb dates to 1773, and the primary meaning today, of a distinguishing feature, from 1864.
---L.
The marking has been done for ages, but this term for it dates to around 1715, named after Goldsmiths' Hall, London, the seat of the Goldsmiths' Company, which does the assaying and marking for gold and silver in England (and possibly the rest of the United Kingdom? -- my sources are unclear on this). The verb dates to 1773, and the primary meaning today, of a distinguishing feature, from 1864.
---L.
