n. & adj.
--n.
1. a thing serving as a symbol, reminder, or distinctive mark of something (as a token of affection; in token of my esteem).
2 a thing serving as evidence of authenticity or as a guarantee.
3 a voucher exchangeable for goods (often of a specified kind), given as a gift.
4 anything used to represent something else, esp. a metal disc etc. used instead of money in coin-operated machines etc.
5 (attrib.) a nominal or perfunctory (token effort). b conducted briefly to demonstrate strength of feeling (token resistance; token strike). c serving to acknowledge a principle only (token payment). d chosen by way of tokenism to represent a particular group (the token woman on the committee).
Phrases and idioms:
by this (or the same) token
1. similarly.
2 moreover. token money coins having a higher face value than their worth as metal. token vote a parliamentary vote of money, the stipulated amount of which is not meant to be binding.
Etymology: OE tac(e)n f. Gmc, rel. to TEACH