Meaning of laundry mark | Babel Free

Definitions

An identifying marking, usually in coded form and handwritten in indelible ink on an inconspicuous area of a garment, widely used until the mid-20th century as an organizing aid by merchants who cleaned and pressed clothing.

historical

Examples

“One of his shirt cuffs . . . bore a laundry mark⟳, and the detectives finally located the laundry in this city.”

“The suit-case gave no clue. It contained one empty leather-covered flask and a pint bottle, also empty, a change⟳ of linen and some collars with the laundry mark⟳, S. H.”

“Some of the numbers I remember⟳ had become⟳ useless information until the computer age brought forth the frequent necessity of thinking up passwords. . . . [W]hen at least one letter is required, I type⟳ in my army laundry mark⟳, which is my last⟳ initial and the final four digits of my serial number⟳.”

CEFR level