note

Etymology 1

From Middle English note, from Old English not, nōt (“note, mark, sign”) and Old French note (“letter, note”), both from Latin nota (“mark, sign, remark, note”).

noun

1. A symbol or annotation.
   1. A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.
      As therefore they that are of the Myſticall Body of Chriſt, haue thoſe inward Graces and Vertues, whereby they differ from all others which are not of the ſame Body ; againe, whoſoeuer appertaine to the Viſible Body of the Church, they haue alſo the notes of externall Profeſſion, whereby the World knoweth what they are. 1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, London: William Stansbye, published 1622, book III, page 89
      She [the Anglican church] has the Note of possession, the Note of freedom from party-titles ; the Note of life, a tough life and a vigorous ; she has ancient descent, unbroken continuance, agreement in doctrine with the ancient Church. 1841, John Henry Newman, A Letter to the Right Reverend Father in God, Richard, Lord Bishop of Oxford, on Occasion of No. 90, in the Series Called The Tracts for the Times, Oxford: John Henry Parker, page 39
      What a note of youth, of imagination, of impulsive eagerness, there was through it all ! 1888, Mary Augusta Ward, Robert Elsmere, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., page 217
      For the first ten years of nationalisation a further note of overall gloom was added by the depressing policy of unimaginative Regional colour schemes, indifferently applied. 1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 251
      The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess
   2. A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.
   3. A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
2. A written or printed communication or commitment.
   1. A brief piece of writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a minute.
      I left him a note to remind him to take out the trash.
   2. A short informal letter; a billet.
      Garson: Drop me a note sometime. I'd love to hear how we're doing. 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Ark Hyperion
   3. (academic) An academic treatise (often without regard to length); a treatment; a discussion paper; (loosely) any contribution to an academic discourse.
   4. A diplomatic missive or written communication.
   5. (finance) A written or printed paper acknowledging a debt, and promising payment
      a promissory note
      a note of hand
      a negotiable note
   6. (obsolete) A list of items or of charges; an account.
   7. A piece of paper money; a banknote.
      I didn't have any coins to pay with, so I used a note.
   8. (extension) A small size of paper used for writing letters or notes.
3. (music) A sound.
   1. A character, variously formed, to indicate the length of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch.
   2. A musical sound; a tone; an utterance; a tune.
      As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note. 1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./4/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days
   3. (by extension) A key of the piano or organ.
   4. (by extension) A call or song of a bird.
      We heard the peculiar note of the woodcock, which resembles the repeated croaking of the frog, followed by a sharp hissing sound, somewhat like the noisy chirping of the wagtail[.] 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 85
4. (uncountable) Observation; notice; heed.
   So it is true, that ſmall matters win great commendation, becauſe they are continually in uſe, and in note ; whereas the occaſion of any great virtue cometh but on feſtivals. 1625, Francis Bacon, “Of ceremonies and reſpects”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, volume III, London: J. and J. Knapton et al., published 1730, page 373
5. (uncountable) Reputation; distinction.
   a poet of note
6. A critical comment.
   Your performance was fantastic! I have just one note: you were a little flat in bars 35 and 36.
7. (obsolete) Notification; information; intelligence.
8. (obsolete) Mark of disgrace.

verb

1. (transitive) To notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed.
   If you look to the left, you can note the old cathedral.
2. (transitive) To record in writing; to make a memorandum of.
   We noted his speech.
3. (transitive) To denote; to designate.
   The modular multiplicative inverse of x may be noted x⁻¹.
4. (transitive) To annotate.
5. (transitive) To set down in musical characters.
6. (transitive, law) To record on the back of (a bill, draft, etc.) a refusal of acceptance, as the ground of a protest, which is done officially by a notary.
   By noting the protest, notaries could date certificates when they were received, making it easier to comply with time restrictions associated with protesting. 2020 October 28, Kimberly Budd for the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, case SJC-12769

Etymology 2

From Middle English note (“use, usefulness, profit”), from Old English notu (“use, enjoyment, advantage, profit, utility”), from Proto-West Germanic *notu, from Proto-Germanic *nutō (“enjoyment, utilisation”), from Proto-Indo-European *newd- (“to acquire, make use of”). Cognate with West Frisian not (“yield, produce, crop”), Dutch genot (“enjoyment, pleasure”), Dutch nut (“usefulness, utility, behoof”), German Nutzen (“benefit, usefulness, utility”), Icelandic not (“use”, noun). Related also to Old English notian (“to enjoy, make use of, employ”), Old English nēotan (“to use, enjoy”), Old High German niozan (“to use, enjoy”), Modern German benutzen (“to use”). Related to nait.

noun

1. (uncountable, UK dialectal, Northern England, Ireland, Scotland) That which is needed or necessary; business; duty; work.
   And have thou that for thy note ! 1838, William Marriott, “The Deluge”, in A Collection of English Miracle-Plays or Mysteries, Basel: Schweighauser & Co, page 11
   Tha'll keep me at this noit all day... Om always at this noit. 1897 May 27, Halifax Courier, quoted in 1903, Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary, volume IV, London: Henry Frowde, page 302
   Thou canst do thy note; that have I espied. 1962, Arthur C. Cawley, Everyman, and Medieval Miracle Plays, page 125
2. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Ireland, Scotland) The giving of milk by a cow or sow; the period following calving or farrowing during which a cow or sow is at her most useful (i.e. gives milk); the milk given by a cow or sow during such a period.
   The supply of horned cattle at this fair was great, but the business done was confined to fleshy barreners of feeding qualities and superior new-calved heifers, and those at early note, with appearance of being useful; … 1843, The Farmer's Magazine, page 384
   For sale, a Kerry cow, five years old, at her note in May. 1875, Paper, Belfast
   A cow is said to be in note when she is in milk. 1888, S. O. Addy Gloss, Words Sheffield, page 160
   A man who drank spring water when his one cow was near note. 1922, P. MacGill, Lanty Hanlon, page 11
   Be at her note, be near note, come forward to her note, of a cow or sow, be near the time for calving or farrowing. 1996, C. I. Macafee Conc., Ulster Dict. at Note