EARMARK

Ear″mark′ (?), n. 1. 1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or slitting.
2. 2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
Money is said to have no earmark. Wharton. Flying, he 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.