When persons were convicted of manslaughter in England, they were formerly marked with this letter on the brawn of the thumb. 2. This letter is sometimes put on the face of treasury notes of the United States, and signifies that the treasury note bears interest at the rate of one mill per centum, and not one per centum interest. 13 Peters, 176.
This letter, used as a Roman numeral, stands for one thousand.
It was also, In old English law, a brand or stigma impressed upon the brawn of the thumb of a person convicted of manslaughter and admitted to the benefit of clergy.
This letter was sometimes put on the face of treasury notes of the United States, and signifies that the treasury note bears interest at the rate of one mill per centum, and not one per centum interest. U. S. v. Hardyman, 13 Pet. 176, 10 L. Ed. 113.
M. also stands as an abbreviation for several words of which it is the initial letter; as “Mary,” (the English queen of that name,) “Michaelmas,” “master,” “middle.”