monomarkn.
/ˈmɒnə(ʊ)mɑːk/, U.S. /ˈmɑnəˌmɑrk/ A combination of letters or figures or a mixture of the two used to identify an individual person (esp. for the purposes of postal delivery), and as a mark to identify personal property. Also in extended use.The concept was superseded by the postcode system in Britain, but the word survives in the names of the companies British Monomarks Limited and British Monomark, which supply secure postal addresses.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > mark of identification > [noun] > officially recognized
monomark1925
1925 Westm. Gaz. 10 July The Monomark system was explained by its inventor, Mr. William Morris, at a luncheon yesterday in London. A monomark, said Mr. Morris, is the shortest officially recognised postal name and address.
1925 Glasgow Herald 10 July 11 The idea..is to set up an international system whereby firms may be granted a ‘monomark’, consisting of a combination of symbols preceded by B.C.M. (British Commercial Monomark).
1926 Glasgow Herald 27 Feb. 10 The persistency of the Scot's mental monomarks applied also to the vocal expression of them.
1928 Daily Mail 14 Aug. 9/7 Bench yesterday held that a monomark on a dog's collar did not fulfil the requirements of the law in respect of the address of the animal's owner.
1975 Times 18 Sept. 2/1 (advt.) A Telex at your disposal for £25 p.a... British Monomarks (Est. 1926).
1997 Independent (Nexis) 3 Aug. (Features) 34 This is where British Monomarks live, the mail-redirection place at No 27, where you write off for white rubber catsuits or naughty brochures.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
monomarkv.
/ˈmɒnə(ʊ)mɑːk/, U.S. /ˈmɑnəˌmɑrk/ rare.
transitive. To provide a monomark for (a person).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > be distinctive mark on [verb (transitive)] > put identifying mark on > with officially recognized mark
monomark1925
1925 Glasgow Herald 10 July 11 Any individual, child or adult, who cares to pay a modest fee will be entitled to be ‘monomarked’.
Derivatives
ˈmonomarking n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > [noun] > with officially recognized mark
monomarking1925
1925 Glasgow Herald 10 July 11 The eternal enigma of the identity of Smith—in England alone there are 530,000 bearers of the name—could be kept from business intercourse by the ‘monomarking’ of each number of the clan.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1925v.1925