postmark

A postmark from 1890.

Compound of post +‎ mark.

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postmark (plural postmarks)

1. A marking made by a postal service on a delivery, usually indicating the place where and the date and time when the item was received or processed for the first time, mostly serving to cancel a postage stamp.
   • 1920, Herman Cyril McNeile, chapter 1, in Bulldog Drummond:

     He looked at the mauve envelope doubtfully, and examined the postmark. "Where is Pudlington, James? and one might almost ask—why is Pudlington? No town has any right to such an offensive name."

postmark (third-person singular simple present postmarks, present participle postmarking, simple past and past participle postmarked)

1. To apply a postmark on.