shelfmark

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noun

The mark that shows the location or call number of a book or manuscript within a library; (loosely) synonym of call number.

OriginEnglish mark ← Middle English schelfe ← Old English sċylfe? →
UncommonScrabble 21
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Meanings

nounshelfmark (plural shelfmarks)

plural shelfmarks

  1. The mark that shows the location or call number of a book or manuscript within a library; (loosely) synonym of call number.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kelH-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*(s)kel(H)-p-
  3. Proto-Germanic*skelfō
  4. Proto-West Germanic*skelfu:
  5. Proto-West Germanic*skilfijā
  6. Old Englishsċylfe?
  7. Middle Englishschelfe
  8. Englishshelf
  9. Englishmark
  10. Englishshelfmark

From shelf + mark.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

shelfmark. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shelfmark

MLA

“shelfmark.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shelfmark. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shelfmark,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shelfmark.

Source: shelfmark on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.