- a distinctive characteristic or attribute

- identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal

- give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause
"I will earmark this money for your research"

1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.

2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.

"Money is said to have no earmark." -- Wharton.

"Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head, and his earmark." -- Robynson (More's Utopia).

"A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens of a particular proprietor." -- Burrow.

1. To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.