Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Obelisk \Ob"e*lisk\, n. [L. obeliscus, Gr. ?, dim. of ? 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.

   2. (Print.) A mark of reference; -- called also {dagger}
      [[dagger]]. See {Dagger}, n., 2.

Obelisk \Ob"e*lisk\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obelisked}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Obelisking}.]
   To mark or designate with an obelisk.

Source : WordNet®

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}]