To"ken (tō"k'n), n. [OE. token,
taken, AS. tācen; akin to OFries. tēken,
OS. tēkan, D. teeken, G. zeichen, OHG.
Zeihhan, Icel. tākan, teiken, Sw. tecken,
Dan. tegn, Goth. taikns sign, token, gateihan to tell,
show, AS. teón to accuse, G. zeihen, OHG.
zīhan, G. zeigen to show, OHG. zeigōn,
Icel. tjā, L. dicere to say, Gr. deikny`nai
to show, Skr. diç. 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.
☞ 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.