marker

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɑː(ɹ)kə(ɹ)/^[1]

Etymology

It is an agent noun from mark and -er.^[2] Old English had mearcere (“writer, notary”), glossing Latin notārius (“clerk”), but the word is not found again until the late 15th century, so the modern word is perhaps a separate formation.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who marks game: 1486 in the OED, the late 15th century in Etymonline.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

One who keeps the score in games is from 1532,^[3] and one who puts a mark or stamp on things from 1553.^[3] In military drill a marker is a soldier placed as a guide in a formation, from 1796.^[3] A tool for marking is by 1725,^[2] a monument stone from 1888,^[2] and the felt-tipped marker pen from 1951.^[2]

Timeline

• 1486 – one who marks game.^[3]
• 1532 – a scorer.^[3]
• 1725 – a marking tool.^[2]
• 1888 – a memorial stone.^[2]
• 1951 – a marker pen.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A pen with a felt tip, used for marking or writing.
2. Something that marks a place or position, such as a bookmark or milestone.
3. A sign or indicator of something: a genetic marker.
4. A person who marks, such as one who keeps the score or grades papers.

Word family

• biomarker
• genetic marker
• magic marker
• marker gene

Related words

• mark
• highlighter

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press