thumb-mark

The index would be classified primarily by some unchanging physical characteristic, such as we are told the thumb-mark and finger-mark afford, and to these would be added any other physical traits that were of material value.

A Modern Utopia Herbert George 2006

[Footnote: It is quite possible that the actual thumb-mark may play only a small part in the work of identification, but it is an obvious convenience to our thread of story to assume that it is the one sufficient feature.]

A Modern Utopia Herbert George 2006

Brooding over the case in that den of his, it suddenly struck him what absolutely damning evidence he could make against McFarlane by using that thumb-mark.

The Adventure of the Norwood Builder 1981

He asked people to pass their hands through their hair (thus collecting upon them a thin coating of the natural oil) and then making a thumb-mark on a glass strip, following it with the mark of the ball of each finger in succession.

Pudd'nhead Wilson 1955

My reasons for believing this thumb-mark was made by the assassin are easily understood.

The Darrow Enigma Melvin Linwood Severy

Brick buildings, with crenellated walls (until the discovery of Tell 'Obeid supposed to date only from the later Sumerian period) of typical plano-convex bricks, baked or crude, usually with thumb-mark down length of convex side (Shahrein), or with two thumb-holes (for carrying the brick when wet?), or vent-holes (' Obeid); at first uninscribed, later with long inscriptions; measuring 10 x 6 x 2-2 1/4 ins.

How to Observe in Archaeology Various

What first fastened my attention was this vague, unfocussed, roving, quasi-introspective vision flashing with panther-like suddenness into a directness that seemed to burn and pierce one like the thrust of a hot stiletto, His face was clean-shaven, save for a mere thumb-mark of black hair directly under the centre of his lower lip.

The Darrow Enigma Melvin Linwood Severy

You will please note the thumb-mark in the margin of page

The Darrow Enigma Melvin Linwood Severy

The question was not one which could be conveniently settled by a brilliant flash of deductive logic, or the discovery of a bloodstained thumb-mark.

The Unpleasantness At The Belladonna Club Sayers, Dorothy L.Lord Peter 05 1928

Now see: on this left boot we find the stranger's thumb-mark over the mud on the leather above the heel.

Whose Body? Dorothy Leigh 1923