"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

Mark is one of those words that take up whole columns in dictionaries.
The basic meaning here is "boundary". In the Shorter Oxford, we come
down to meaning III 16:

A particular brand, make, or design of an article, esp ... a
manufactured product (as a car or aeroplane, etc.) as represented at a
particular stage in its design and development."

Middle 17th century!

From the OED:

mark, n.^1

c. In earlier use: a particular make, design, or size of an article
(originally identified by the maker with a particular device, stamp,
etc.). Now chiefly (freq. as Mark followed by a numeral, abbreviated
Mk.): a version or model of a manufactured product, representing a
particular stage in its design and development; freq. fig. Mark I
colloq., first class.

Cf. MARQUE n.2 1.

1488 Cely Papers (1900) 201 Bespeke me xij dosun payre of loven [=
louvain] glovis ij dosun of the marke of ij, iij dosun of the marke of
iiij. 1669 S. STURMY Mariners Mag. V. xii. 68 In regard of the several
differences of the length and marks, or Diameter of her Base and
Muzzle-ring, no certain proportion can be generally assigned. 1758
Monthly Rev. 204 The prices of Grinding..and Diamond-cutting the several
Marks or Sizes [of plate glass]. 1837 N. WHITTOCK et al. Compl. Bk.
Trades (1842) 225 The very heavy files..are made of inferior marks of
blistered steel. 1888 Treat. Mil. Small Arms & Ammunition 52 Enfield
Revolver Pistol, Mark II. 1899 Kynoch Jrnl. Oct.-Nov. 12/1 Despite the
unfortunate failures at Edinburgh and Bisley of the bullet known as Mark
IV. 1904 Speaker 11 June 240/2 The same mark varies so much from year to
year that no one would dare to purchase without examining a sample bale
[of wool]. 1914 Times Bk. Navy vii. 99 The gun has progressed through
successive stages, or 'marks' as they are technically known. Marks 3, 4,
5, and 5w were 'built' guns. 1926 L. NASON Chevrons 120 This is going to
be a real, old issue, Mark I scrap. 1942 W. S. CHURCHILL in Second World
War (1951) IV. 768 There should be no difficulty in sparing 1,000 tanks
and 1,000 anti-tank and A.A. guns. No doubt older marks might form the
bulk. 1948 'N. SHUTE' No Highway i. 7 The Mark I model [sc. an aeroplane]
which went into production first had radial engines. 1974 Economist 21
Dec. 29/3 They are calling him [sc. Helmut Schmidt] Kissinger Mark II.
1975 J. SYMONS Three Pipe Probl. xv. 129 For his white clients Riverboat
often played the role of American Negro, Mark One. 1994 D. HEALY Goat's
Song ii. 24 The first time it was a Lee Enfield .303 mark I with
sights... The second time it was a Lee Enfield .303 mark 2 with sights
and a light intensifier. Things had improved in the meantime.
--
As I suspected, a borrowing from the French.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)