signet

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A seal, especially one used officially to mark documents.
2. n. The impression made with such a seal.
3. v. To mark or endorse with a signet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A seal, especially a private seal, used instead of signing the name, or in addition to it, for verification of papers or the like. The signet in Scotland is a seal by which royal warrants connected with the administration of justice were formerly authenticated. Hence the title of writers to the signet or clerks of the signet, a class of legal practitioners in Edinburgh who formerly had important privileges, which are now nearly abolished. They act generally as agents or attorneys in conducting causes before the Court of Session. In English administration the signet is one of the seals for the authentication of royal grants, which before the abolition of the signet-office in 1848 was there affixed to documents before passing the privy seal, but it is not now required.
2. n. The stamp of a signet; an impression made by or as if by a signet.
3. n. The ring-shaped form of Plasmodium of malaria. See signet-ring, 2.

Wiktionary

1. n. an object (especially a ring) formerly used to impress a picture into the sealing wax of a document as a proof of its origin

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; -- called also privy signet.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a seal (especially one used to mark documents officially)