mark

{{11}}mark (n.¹) "trace, impression," O.E. mearc (W.Saxon), merc (Mercian) "boundary, sign, limit, mark," from P.Gmc. *marko (Cf. O.N. merki "boundary, sign," mörk "forest," which often marked a frontier; O.Fris. merke, Goth. marka "boundary, frontier," Du. merk "mark, brand," Ger. Mark "boundary, boundary land"), from PIE *merg- "edge, boundary, border" (Cf. L. margo "margin;" Avestan mareza- "border," O.Ir. mruig, Ir. bruig "borderland," Welsh bro "district").

The primary sense is probably "boundary," which had evolved by O.E. through "sign of a boundary," through "sign in general," then to "impression or trace forming a sign." Meaning "any visible trace or impression" first recorded c.1200. Sense of "line drawn to indicate starting point of a race" (e.g. on your marks ...) first attested 1887. The M.E. sense of "target" (c.1200) is the notion in MARKSMAN (Cf. marksman) and slang sense "victim of a swindle" (1883). The notion of "sign, token" is behind the meaning "numerical award given by a teacher" (1829). Influenced by Scandinavian cognates.

{{12}}mark (n.²) "unit of money or weight," late O.E. marc, a unit of weight (chiefly for gold or silver) equal to about eight ounces, probably from O.N. mörk "unit of weight," cognate with Ger. Mark, probably ultimately a derivative of MARK (Cf. mark) (n.¹), perhaps in sense of "imprinted weight or coin." Used from 18c. in reference to various continental coinages, especially. the silver coin of Germany first issued 1875.

{{12}}mark (v.) "to put a mark on," O.E. mearcian (W.Saxon), merciga (Anglian) "to trace out boundaries," from P.Gmc. *markojanan (Cf. O.N. merkja, O.S. markon, O.Fris. merkia, O.H.G. marchon, Ger. merken "to mark, note," M.Du., Du. merken), from the root of MARK (Cf. mark) (n.¹). Influenced by Scandinavian cognates. Meaning "to have a mark" is from c.1400; that of "to notice, observe" is late 14c. Meaning "to put a numerical price on an object for sale" led to verbal phrase mark down (1859). Mark time (1833) is from military drill. Related: MARKED (Cf. Marked); MARKING (Cf. marking). Old French merchier "to mark, note, stamp, brand" is a Germanic loan-word.