[f. EAR sb.1 + MARK sb.]
1. A mark in the ear of a sheep or other animal, serving as a sign of ownership.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 52. Se that they [the sheep] be weil marked, both eare-marke, pitche-marke, and radel-marke.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1625/4. Lost … a White Mare … no Ear-mark.
1683. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 65. Punishmt for those yt shall presume to alter their Neighbours Eare or Brand Mark.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., II. s.v. Marking, Some mark them with Raddle and make Ear Marks.
2. transf. and fig. A ‘stamp,’ mark of ownership, identifying mark.
1577–87. Harrison, in Holinshed, Descr. Brit., xx. 115. This proverbe hath … been used as an eare marke of their dissimulation.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 67. We should see foure, five, and more, which had, as it were, our eare-marke; one hurt upon the backe, another neere the tayle, another about the fynnes.
1670. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 99. God makes this the ear-mark of his people, that they are children that will not lie.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 151. Fanatick Money hath no Ear-mark.
1879. Trollope, Thackeray, 201. His [Thackeray’s] most besetting sin in style,—the little earmark by which he is most conspicuous,—is a certain affected familiarity.
3. The mark of teeth in the ear.
1837–40. Haliburton, Clockm., I. xix. (1843), 98. They said it was a biter bit, and they came … to see which critter would get the ear mark.
