From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
obelisk
n 1: a stone pillar having a rectangular cross section tapering
towards a pyramidal top
2: a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference
or footnote [syn: dagger]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
obelisk \ob"e*lisk\ ([o^]b"[e^]*l[i^]sk), n. [L. obeliscus, Gr.
'obeli`skos, dim. of 'obelo`s a spit, a pointed pillar: cf.
F. ob['e]lisque.]
1. An upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it
rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It
is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly
covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Print.) A mark of reference; -- called also dagger
[[dagger]]. See Dagger, n., 2.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Obelisk \Ob"e*lisk\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelisked
([o^]b"[e^]*l[i^]skt); p. pr. & vb. n. Obelisking.]
To mark or designate with an obelisk.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Dagger \Dag"ger\ (-g[~e]r), n. [Cf. OE. daggen to pierce, F.
daguer. See Dag a dagger.]
1. A short weapon used for stabbing. This is the general
term: cf. Poniard, Stiletto, Bowie knife, Dirk,
Misericorde, Anlace.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Print.) A mark of reference in the form of a dagger
[[dagger]]. It is the second in order when more than one
reference occurs on a page; -- called also obelisk.
[1913 Webster]
Dagger moth (Zool.), any moth of the genus Apatalea. The
larv[ae] are often destructive to the foliage of fruit
trees, etc.
Dagger of lath, the wooden weapon given to the Vice in the
old Moralities. --Shak.
Double dagger, a mark of reference [[dag]] which comes next
in order after the dagger.
To look daggers, or To speak daggers, to look or speak
fiercely or reproachfully.
[1913 Webster]