Definition
The act of affixing a mark or signature to mail to show that postage has been paid; also, the official mark itself.
Etymology
From 'frank' (originally meaning to have the right to send mail free, from Old French 'franc' meaning exempt or free). In British postal history, certain officials could 'frank' their correspondence without paying, and the term evolved to mean authorizing mail.
Kelly Says
Franking privileges were a huge deal in 18th-century politics—being able to send free mail was a status symbol, and politicians often abused it! The scandal got so bad it became a political reform issue, and the system eventually changed.
Translations
ARالعربية
طوابع البريد
ta-wa-e' al-bu-raid
BNবাংলা
ডাক টিকিট
dak tik-it
CSČeština
poštovní známka
po-sh-tni znam-ka
DEDeutsch
Frankieren
frank-i-e-ren
ELΕλληνικά
σημείωμα
se-me-o-ma
ESEspañol
franqueo
fran-kwe-o
FISuomi
postimerkki
pos-ti-merk-ki
FRFrançais
affranchissement
a-fʁɑ̃-ʃi-mɑ̃
HEעברית
טבעת דואר
tav-at da-ar
HIहिन्दी
डाक टिकट
daak tik-at
IDBahasa Indonesia
prangko
pran-ko
ITItaliano
francobollo
fran-ko-bol-lo
KKKK
почталық марка
poshtalyk mar-ka
MRMR
पोस्टमार्क
pos-t-mar-k
MSBahasa Melayu
stamping
stam-ping
NLNederlands
frankeren
frank-e-ren
PAPA
ਪੋસ્ਟਮਾਰਕ
pos-t-mar-k
PLPolski
opaska pocztowa
op-as-ka pocz-to-wa
PTPortuguês
franquear
fran-kwar
RUРусский
почтовая марка
poshto-va-ya mar-ka
SVSvenska
stämpel
sh-tempel
SWKiswahili
aliban
a-li-ban
TRTürkçe
posta pulu
pos-ta pu-lu
UKУкраїнська
поштова марка
poshto-va mar-ka
VITiếng Việt
tem nhãn
tem-nham