Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hall-mark \Hall"-mark`\ (h[add]l"m[aum]rk`), n.
1. The official stamp of the Goldsmiths' Company and other
assay offices, in the United Kingdom, on gold and silver
articles, attesting their purity.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence, [figuratively]: A distinguishing characteristic or
characteristics; as, a word or phrase lacks the hall-mark
of the best writers.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
hallmark
n 1: a distinctive characteristic or attribute [syn: trademark,
earmark, stylemark]
2: a mark on an article of trade to indicate its origin and
authenticity [syn: authentication, assay-mark]