Tallymark

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A notch or line drawn to keep track of a running total, typically grouped in sets of five with a diagonal stroke through four vertical marks
2. A mark scored on a surface to record each item or occurrence being counted, often arranged in groups to show quantities at a glance
3. A visible stroke or notch used as a method of tallying or recording a number of things, commonly grouped in fives for easy enumeration

Etymology: Long before paper ledgers, people kept count by cutting notches into a stick. The English royal Exchequer relied on this method for debts and payments. A stick was notched, then split lengthwise so that the creditor and debtor each kept half. The two halves had to match to be valid, which made them very hard to forge. These split sticks gave English the word "tally." The word comes from Old French "taille," from Latin "talea," meaning a twig or cutting. That same root gives "tailor," from cutting cloth, and "detail," from cutting something into pieces. The earliest sense was the notched stick itself, and the sense of counting came from the notches that recorded each transaction. A "tallymark" is therefore a mark made to keep a count, joining "tally" with "mark." The compound describes the same practice as the notched sticks, with a pen or chalk replacing the knife.

Synonyms: tally, mark, score