ˈswan-mark
[mark n.1]
An official mark of ownership cut on the beak of a swan, on the occasion of swan-upping.
| c 1560 in Proc. Archæol. Inst., Lincoln (1850) 309 If any person..by sale, or exchaunge have obteined any swan⁓marke, and hath any game of the same. 1586 Will of Buckworth (Somerset Ho.), I geue to my son my swannemarke of the hokys in fee symple. 1602–3 in Willis & Clark Cambr. (1886) III. 595 Bond for going to S{supt} Iues about our swanmarke xij{supd}. 1662–3 Ibid., For the Alienacion of the Swanne marke, 00. 07. 08. 1842 [see below]. 1883 G. C. Davies Norfolk Broads xxix. (1884) 225 This privilege of swan-mark was a heritable property. 1886 Willis & Clark Cambridge I. 438 One of the doors..has the College swan-mark engraved upon it. |
So ˈswan-ˌmarker, an official who marks swans, a swan-upper; ˈswan-ˌmarking, the operation of marking swans.
| 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. 1900 Daily News 27 Sept. 5/1 This year's swan-marking. |