colophon vs token

colophon

noun
  • In manuscripts (typically before the invention of printing), the note, usually at the end, left by the scribe who copied it, giving information on their exemplar, where and when the copy was made, and sometimes, their own name. 

  • A page on a website identifying the details of its creation, such as the author's name and the technologies used. 

  • A printer's or publisher's identifying inscription or logo appearing at the front or end of a book, or the same appearing on the spine or dust jacket. 

token

noun
  • Ten and a half quires, or, commonly, 250 sheets, of paper printed on both sides; also, in some cases, the same number of sheets printed on one side, or half the number printed on both sides. 

  • An object or disclosure to attest or authenticate the bearer or an instruction. 

  • An atomic piece of data, such as a word, for which a meaning may be inferred during parsing. 

  • A lexeme; a basic, grammatically indivisible unit of a language such as a keyword, operator or identifier. 

  • A keepsake. 

  • A piece of stamped metal or plastic, etc., used as a substitute for money; a voucher that can be exchanged for goods or services. 

  • Support for a belief; grounds for an opinion. 

  • A minor attempt for appearance's sake, or to minimally comply with a requirement. 

  • A meaningless placeholder used as a substitute for sensitive data. 

  • A conceptual object that can be possessed by a computer, process, etc. in order to regulate a turn-taking system such as a token ring network. 

  • A physical object used for exchange between drivers and signalmen on single track lines. 

  • A particular thing to which a concept applies. 

  • A single example of a certain word in a text or corpus. 

  • An extraordinary event serving as evidence of supernatural power. 

  • Something serving as an expression of something else. 

  • A small physical object, often designed to give the appearance of a common thing, used to represent a person or character in a board game or other situation. 

  • A characteristic sign of a disease or of a bodily disorder, a symptom; a sign of a bodily condition, recovery, or health. 

  • Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, of power, good faith. 

  • A member of a group of people that is included within a larger group to comply with a legal or social requirement. 

  • A tally. 

  • A seal guaranteeing the quality of an item. 

  • A bit of leather having a peculiar mark designating a particular miner. Each hewer sent one of these with each corf or tub he had hewn. 

  • A thin bed of coal indicating the existence of a thicker seam at no great distance. 

  • A piece of metal given beforehand to each person in the congregation who is permitted to partake of the Lord's Supper. 

  • In a loom, a colored signal to show the weaver which shuttle to use. 

verb
  • To betroth 

  • To symbolize, instantiate 

  • To betoken, indicate, portend, designate, denote 

adj
  • Done as an indication or a pledge. 

  • Perfunctory or merely symbolic; done or existing for appearance's sake, or to minimally comply with a requirement. 

  • He was hired as the company's token black person. 

  • Included in minimal numbers in order to create an impression or illusion of diversity, especially ethnic or gender diversity. 

How often have the words colophon and token occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )