n. [ OE. margine, margent, L. margo, ginis. Cf. March a border, Marge. ] 1. A border; edge; brink; verge; as, the margin of a river or lake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: The part of a page at the edge left uncovered in writing or printing. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Com.) The difference between the cost and the selling price of an article. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Something allowed, or reserved, for that which can not be foreseen or known with certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Brokerage) Collateral security deposited with a broker to secure him from loss on contracts entered into by him on behalf of his principial, as in the speculative buying and selling of stocks, wheat, etc. It is usually less than the full value of the security purchased, in which case it may be qualified by the portion of the full value required to be deposited; as, to buy stocks on 50% margin. N. Biddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Margin draft (Masonry), a smooth cut margin on the face of hammer-dressed ashlar, adjacent to the joints. --
Margin of a course (Arch.), that part of a course, as of slates or shingles, which is not covered by the course immediately above it. See 2d Gauge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Border; brink; verge; brim; rim. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Margined p. pr. & vb. n. Marginging. ] 1. To furnish with a margin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enter in the margin of a page. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Finance) An account with a securities brokerage in which the broker extends credit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. marginal. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a margin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Written or printed in the margin; as, a marginal note or gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. At the lower limit; barely sufficient; as, of marginal utility. [ PJC ]

n. (Economics) The increase in total cost of production as a result of producing one more unit of output; since certain ovrhead costs are fixed, the marginal cost is almost aways less than the total per-unit cost of production averaged over all units produced.
Syn. -- incremental cost, differential cost. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] Marginal notes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the property of being marginal or on the fringes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. 1. In the margin of a book. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a marginal{ 3 } manner; barely sufficiently; almost not; as, marginally useful. [ PJC ]

v. t. To furnish with a distinct margin; to margin. [ R. ] Cockeram. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. marginatus, p. p. of marginare to margin. See Margin, n. ] Having a margin distinct in appearance or structure. [ 1913 Webster ]