Marks

Marks may be inked, stencilled or other impressions, colour codes, or alterations of surfaces of objects. In physical distribution, shipping marks are abbreviations and codes giving origination, destination, contents, weight and other related matter such as carrier, and insurer. Bar-code marks for computer optical scanning of products are used to indicate to customs officers the nature of package contents of imports, and for retail store cash register tallying of prices. In information retrieval and library science call numbers, shelf location symbols, and the like are referred to as marks. Marks can be on humans as well and include Carn's mark, tatoos and identification numbers. 'Mark' is also criminal argot for the human target of a confidence trick or assault, viz 'a marked man'. Formerly it indicated the Christian cross and Christ, and the phrase, 'not up to the mark' meant, not up to the ideal or optimum.