Stigmate STIGMATA, in antiquity, certain marks impressed on the left shoulders of the soldiers when lifted.
Stillingfleet. STIGMATIZING, among the ancients, was inflicted upon slaves as a punishment, but more frequently as a mark to know them by: in which case, it was done by applying a red-hot iron marked with certain letters to their foreheads, till a fair impression was made; and then pouring ink into their furrows, that the inscription might be the more conspicuous. Stigmatizing, among some nations, was, however, looked upon as a distinguishing mark of honour and nobility.