Marker claim

Posted by Smokey Stover on October 04, 2005

In Reply to: Marker claim posted by Miri Barak on September 14, 2005

: Hello

: long time since I've been here, always glad to come back.

: I would like to know the meaning of the expression "a marker claim", in the context:

: "When, soon afterowrds, Skolnik criticized a marker claim by King, the ill will between them hightened".

: Thank you very much

I think the author, trying to be succinct, has instead become confusing. In this case, a slightly larger context might have helped. Is there gambling involved? Or loan-sharking? See OED: marker "14. N. Amer. colloq. A promissory note; an I.O.U. [Citations:] 1887 F. FRANCIS Saddle & Mocassin xii. 225 Before half the deal was over, the whole bank of checks was gone, and Cuff was giving markers for hundreds as hard as he could go it. 1931 D. RUNYON Guys & Dolls vii. 147 Now I am going to pay my landlady, and take up a few markers here and there, and feed myself up good. 1985 E. LEONARD Glitz xiii. 112 He draws markers for up to two million in cash. 1990 Righting Words Spring 16/1 If the player wants a 'marker', he is asking for a short-term loan from the house." If this is anywhere near the correct context, perhaps a marker claim is a claim to a marker, or a claim tied to a marker--except that a marker is instrinsically a claim of a sort. Old movies with gangsters in them used to talk about markers, e.g., a Shirley Temple movie of which I can't remember the name. She was a hostage for the payment of the marker, as I remember. They didn't have to be from the house, of course, but could be any sort of IOU. SS

• Marker claim Smokey Stover 04/October/05