touch plate

American  

noun

1. a pewter plate belonging to a guild of pewterers and bearing samples of the touchmarks of all pewterers belonging to the guild.

---

Etymology

Origin of touch plate

First recorded in 1500–10

Example Sentences

Machado, who signed a $300-million, 10-year contract during spring training, says he did not touch plate umpire Bill Welke during their argument.

From Los Angeles Times

Machado is appealing his suspension and claims he did not touch plate ump Bill Welke during their argument.

From Seattle Times

In what was probably the closest race in Olympic history, Sweden's Gunnar Larsson hit his electronic touch plate at the end of the 400-meter individual medley just 2/1,000 of a second before American Tim McK.ee touched his.

From Time Magazine Archive

"The tramp-wife" she would not permit to touch plate or spoon, knife or potato.

From Project Gutenberg