From its first uses, in Old French, la marque (mark) has the meaning of sign that proves the singularity. It also has the sense of reference or boundary. La marque may become a sign of infamy: from the Middle Ages, it is affixed to prostitutes or criminals. One of the highlights of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas was when the D’Artagnan has discovered the fleur-de-lis that was branded with a hot iron on the shoulder of Milady, which designated her as a former convicted prisoner of the king (although in reality the beauty has never stood trial) Continue reading →