earmark

v. set aside, designate for a special purpose (i.e. money); mark with an earmark

n. mark on an animal's ear showing ownership

Earmark is a the term that dates to the 16th century, originally referring to cuts or marks in the ears of cattle and sheep made to show ownership. Today it is commonly used to refer to an institution's ability to designate funds for a specific use or owner. Earmark has different meanings in the fields of public finance and politics.
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Noun
1. identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
(hypernym) marker, marking, mark
2. a distinctive characteristic or attribute
(synonym) hallmark, trademark, stylemark
(hypernym) characteristic
(derivation) allow, appropriate, set aside, reserve
Verb
1. give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause; "I will earmark this money for your research"
(synonym) allow, appropriate, set aside, reserve
(hypernym) assign, allot, portion
(derivation) hallmark, trademark, stylemark

(v. t.)
To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
  

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

(n.)
A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
  

Synonyms and related words:
allocate, allot, appoint, appropriate to, aroma, assign, assign to, attribute, badge, banner, be characteristic, birthmark, blaze, blemish, blotch, brand, cachet, cast, caste mark, character, characteristic, characterize, check, checkmark, cicatrix, configuration, cut, dapple, define, demarcate, describe, destine, detail, device, differentia, differential, differentiate, discoloration, distinctive feature, distinguish, dot, engraving, fate, feature, figure, flavor, fleck, flick, freckle, gash, graving, gust, hack, hallmark, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, image, impress, impression, index, indicant, indicator, individualism, insignia, jot, keynote, label, lentigo, lineaments, lot, macula, make assignments, mannerism, mark, mark off, mark out, mark out for, marking, measure, mold, mole, mottle, nature, nevus, nick, notch, note, odor, ordain, particularity, patch, peculiarity, picture, point, polka dot, portion off, prick, property, puncture, quality, quirk, representation, representative, reserve, restrict, restrict to, savor, scar, scarification, schedule, score, scotch, scratch, scratching, seal, set, set apart, set aside, set off, set the pace, set the tone, shape, sigil, sign, signal, signature, singularity, smack, sound the keynote, specialty, speck, speckle, splash, splotch, spot, stain, stamp, stigma, strawberry mark, sure sign, symptom, tab, tag, taint, tang, taste, tattoo, tattoo mark, telltale sign, tick, ticket, tittle, token, trait, trick, watermark,