There is a practice, formerly much more widely prevalent than it is now, of marking the horns of animals with the initials of a creditor, which is supposed to hypothecate the debtor's cattle effectually as against all but the landlord's claim for rent.
"Second Shetland Truck System Report"
William Guthrie
Now here's the proposition: according to law your father isn't legally dead-he won't be for seven years-and so your mother, not being his heir yet, had no right to hypothecate that stock.
"Shadow Mountain"
Dane Coolidge