n.
Pronunciation: ' ho ̇ l- ˌ märk
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>