👍 A thumb mark 💻 A digital fingerprint

thumbprint

3 7.2

A short digital code for a certificate or key that helps check it is real

noun
/ˈθʌmprɪnt/

Specialized

: huella digital

Castor dons his stern "Archer" face as the gate guard checks his thumbprint ID.
thumbprint scanner
thumbprint ID

Examples

A guard uses his "thumbprint ID" to get through the security door.

Fiction book (1997)
"Put in your thumbprint if you agree, Uncle Sang."

Fiction book (1994)
If you wish to live, just put your thumbprint on the scanner next to the TV.

Double Team (1997)
His thumbprint activated his notebook.

Fiction book (1999)
Just over half (51%) of the 4,000 adults surveyed expect to be able to pay by scanning their thumbprint by 2025.

Blog text (26)
To access the secure server, you must provide your thumbprint to verify your identity.
The new software requires a digital thumbprint for security when encrypting files.
After scanning your thumbprint, you will gain entry to the secured area.

How Identifying

thumbprint

Specialized

3 7.2

fingerprint

37 2.9

identifier

Specialized

22 4.9

to checksum

Specialized

6.3

Surface Forms

thumbprint singular

thumbprints plural

Morphology

thumbprint = thumb + print (semi-transparent) = thumb + print

The technical/digital sense is a metaphorical extension of the physical 'thumbprint' as an identifier, so the relation to components is clear but specialized.

Etymology

Thumbprint is also used for digital things by borrowing the real thumb 'print' idea of a small, unique mark. That's why a digital thumbprint is a short code for a key or certificate used to confirm identity.