Branding
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary · Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
In criminal law. The punishment of marking convicted felons with a hot iron (in the shape of a letter or otherwise) on the hand or face. Burning in the hand (q. v.) on the allowance of clergy, was a species of branding.
4 Bl. Com, 368, 8Y0.