earmarking doctrine
Bankruptcy. An equitable principle that when a new lender makes a loan to enable a debtor to pay off a specified creditor, the funds are specifically set aside for that creditor so that, if the debtor lacks control over the disposition of the funds, they do not become part of the debtor’s estate and thus subject to a preference. [Cases: Bankruptcy 2610. C.J.S. Bankruptcy § 136.]