trade mark
Preserved but no longer current.
The name or distinctive device for an article made for sale, indicating that it was produced by the holder of this device. In most countries trade marks are pro- tected by law, it being a misdemeanour to forge or counterfeit such a mark. In Britain and U.S.A. a trade mark must be registered with the Government in order to secure full protection.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “trade mark” mean?
The name or distinctive device for an article made for sale, indicating that it was produced by the holder of this device. In most countries trade marks are pro- tected by law, it being a misdemeanour to forge or counterfeit such a mark. In Britain and U.S.A. a trade mark must be registered with the Government in order to secure full protection.
Is “trade mark” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.