headmarkn.
/ˈhɛdmɑːk/, U.S. /ˈhɛdˌmɑrk/ 1.
a. Originally and chiefly Scottish. The distinguishing features, esp. of the head or face, by which an individual person or farm animal is identified; spec. the natural appearance of a sheep, as opposed to any artificial mark or brand. Frequently in to know by headmark: to know by personal appearance, recognize by sight. Also in extended use. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun] > form or peculiarity of
bottle-head1601
headmark1727
head form1858
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [noun] > Ovus Aries (domestic sheep) > body and parts of > head of > distinguishing features of
headmark1805
1727 P. Walker Remarkable Passages Semple, Welwood & Cameron 169 K. James VI..knowing them all by Head-mark.
1741 J. Douglas Short Diss. Gout 20 I knew the Gout by head-mark.
1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. II. 180 An intelligent shepherd knows all his sheep from personal acquaintance, called head-mark, and can swear to the identity of a sheep as he could to that of a fellow-servant.
1829 W. Scott Antiquary (new ed.) II. xix. 263 He knew every book, as a shepherd does the individuals of his flock, by what is called head-mark.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. lx. 426 In cities where people do not know their neighbours by headmark.
1906 J. Clay J. Clay i. 8 He knew every sheep on his hirsel by headmark.
1933 J. Buchan Prince of Captivity ii. ii. 161 There's..a general manager who spends his life in the train and doesn't know a single man by head-mark.
b. A characteristic or distinguishing marking on the head of a wild animal. Usually in plural.
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the world > animals > animal body > markings or colourings > [noun] > distinguishing features or head-mark
headmark1878
field mark1902
1878 E. Coues Birds Colorado Valley 117 Chin narrowly or imperfectly black, and some of the above described head-marks absent or incomplete.
1898 F. M. Gilbert Pigeons 182 Badges—Same as Saddles except body color... Head marks same as Saddles.
1972 L. M. Klauber Rattlesnakes (ed. 2) I. iv. 240 The head marks are nearer those of atricaudatus than of adamanteus.
2010 R. Porter & S. Aspinall Birds Middle East 244 Small, very short-tailed lark..with contrasting head-marks and rusty ear-coverts.
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the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > land suitable for cultivation > [noun] > broken land > arable or ploughed land > headland
headOE
headlandOE
lea-riga1170
Land's endc1394
headrig1475
hade?1523
land-end1555
furlong1649
hade-way1649
head-ridge1659
sideland1763
headmark1820
turn-row1885
1820 D. Turner Tour Normandy II. 101 Not a fence to be seen; nor do there even appear to be any balks or head-marks.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1727