Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Token?

\To"ken\, n. (Weaving) In a Jacquard loom, a colored signal to show the weaver which shuttle to use.
\To"ken\ (t[=o]"k'n), n. [OE. token, taken, AS. t[=a]cen; akin to OFries. t[=e]ken, OS. t[=e]kan, D. teeken, G. zeichen, OHG. Zeihhan, Icel. t[=a]kan, teiken, Sw. tecken, Dan. tegn, Goth. taikns sign, token, gateihan to tell, show, AS. te['o]n to accuse, G. zeihen, OHG. z[=i]han, G. zeigen to show, OHG. zeig[=o]n, Icel. tj[=a], L. dicere to say, Gr. deikny`nai to show, Skr. di[,c]. Cf. {Diction}, {Teach}.] 1. Something intended or supposed to represent or indicate another thing or an event; a sign; a symbol; as, the rainbow is a token of God's covenant established with Noah. 2. A memorial of friendship; something by which the friendship of another person is to be kept in mind; a memento; a souvenir. This is some token from a never friend. --Shak. 3. Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, of power, good faith, etc. Say, by this token, I desire his company. --Shak. 4. A piece of metal intended for currency, and issued by a private party, usually bearing the name of the issuer, and redeemable in lawful money. Also, a coin issued by government, esp. when its use as lawful money is limited and its intrinsic value is much below its nominal value. Note: It is now made unlawful for private persons to issue tokens. 5. (Med.) A livid spot upon the body, indicating, or supposed to indicate, the approach of death. [Obs.] Like the fearful tokens of the plague, Are mere forerunners of their ends. --Beau. & Fl. 6. (Print.) Ten and a half quires, or, commonly, 250 sheets, of paper printed on both sides; also, in some cases, the same number of sheets printed on one side, or half the number printed on both sides. 7. (Ch. of Scot.) A piece of metal given beforehand to each person in the congregation who is permitted to partake of the Lord's Supper. 8. (Mining) A bit of leather having a peculiar mark designating a particular miner. Each hewer sends one of these with each corf or tub he has hewn. {Token money}, money which is lawfully current for more than its real value. See {Token}, n., 4. {Token sheet} (Print.), the last sheet of each token. --W. Savage.
\To"ken\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tokened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tokening}.] [AS. t[=a]cnian, fr. t[=a]cen token. See {Token}, n.] To betoken. [Obs.] --Shak.