Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Character

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

CHARAC'TER (χαρακτήρ). In general, any sign, note, or mark, stamped, engraved, or otherwise impressed upon any substance, like the device upon coins, seals, &c.; and in a more special sense, the brand or mark burnt into the flanks of oxen, sheep, or horses, in order to distinguish the breed, certify the ownership, or for other purposes of a similar nature, as in the example (Character/1.1), which shows the brand upon a race-horse, from a small antique bronze. Columell. xi. 2. 14.

2. The iron instrument with which such marks were made. Isidor. Orig. xx. 7.

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  Character/1.1