What is the origin of “Easy Mark”
According to “The Cooler” with William H. Macy, shysters would actually mark people with a bit of chalk on their backs so that the hustler down the way could easily identify them. IIRC the first guy would gauge the mark’s gullibility via some careful observation and perhaps a few well placed questions.
I know. I just watched it (Maria Bello is hot) but I have learned that one cannot trust fiction and so I was curious if it The Cooler was accurate.
Probably from this definition of “mark” from our friends at Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: 1mark
Pronunciation: 'märk
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mearc boundary, march, sign; akin to Old High German marha boundary, Latin margo
1 : a boundary land
2 a (1) : a conspicuous object serving as a guide for travelers (2) : something (as a line, notch, or fixed object) designed to record position b : one of the bits of leather or colored bunting placed on a sounding line at intervals c : TARGET d : the starting line or position in a track event e (1) : GOAL, OBJECT (2) : an object of attack, ridicule, or abuse; specifically : a victim or prospective victim of a swindle (3) : the point under discussion (4) : condition of being correct or accurate <her observations are on the mark> f : a standard of performance, quality, or condition : NORM <not feeling up to the mark lately>
3 a (1) : SIGN, INDICATION <gave her the necklace as a mark of his esteem> (2) : an impression (as a scratch, scar, or stain) made on something (3) : a distinguishing trait or quality : CHARACTERISTIC <the marks of an educated person> b : a symbol used for identification or indication of ownership c : a cross made in place of a signature d (1) : TRADEMARK (2) capitalized – used with a numeral to designate a particular model of a weapon or machine <Mark II> e : a written or printed symbol (as a comma or colon) f : POSTMARK g : a symbol used to represent a teacher’s estimate of a student’s work or conduct; especially : GRADE h : a figure registering a point or level reached or achieved <the halfway mark in the first period of play>; especially : RECORD
4 a : ATTENTION, NOTICE <nothing worthy of mark> b : IMPORTANCE, DISTINCTION <stands out as a person of mark> c : a lasting or strong impression d : an assessment of merits : RATING <got high marks for honesty>
The OED cites the first use of “mark” to mean * Among criminals: a person, property, etc., targeted for robbery or burglary; * as follows:
The use of “easy” in combination with mark is cited first from 1903 in the OED.