Swan-mark

[MARK sb.¹] An official mark of ownership cut on the beak of a swan, on the occasion of SWAN-UPPING.

1

c. 1560. in Proc. Archæol. Inst., Lincoln (1850), 309. If any person … by sale, or exchaunge have obtened any swanmarke, and hath any game of the same.

2

1586. Will of Buckworth (Somerset Ho.). I geue to my son my swannemarke of the hokys in fee symple.

3

1602–3. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 595. Bond for going to S^t Iues about our swanmarke xij^d. Ibid. (1662–3). For the Alienacion of the Swanne marke, 00. 07. 08.

4

1842. [see below].

5

1883. G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, xxix. (1884), 225. This privilege of swan-mark was a heritable property.

6

1886. Willis & Clark, Cambridge, I. 438. One of the doors … has the College swan-mark engraved upon it.

7

So Swan-marker, an official who marks swans, a swan-upper; Swan-marking, the operation of marking swans.

8

1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 372/1. In creating this privilege the crown grants a swan-mark (cygninota), for a game of swans…. The swan-markers of the crown and the two Companies [sc. Dyers and Vintners] of the city of London go up the river [Thames] for the purpose of … marking the young birds.

9

1900. Daily News, 27 Sept., 5/1. This year’s swan-marking.

10