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The word for today is…
manicule (noun)
– a symbol in the shape of a pointing hand, used to draw attention to a section of text.
Source : Atlas Obscura
Etymology : A manicule takes the form of a hand with an outstretched index figure, gesturing towards a particularly pertinent piece of text.
Although manicules are still visible today in old signage and retro décor, their heyday was in medieval and Renaissance Europe.
Despite its centuries-long popularity, the first-ever use of a manicule is surprisingly difficult to pinpoint. They were reportedly used in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of land ownership in England and Wales, but widespread use began around the 12th century. The name comes from the latin word manicula—little hand—but the punctuation mark has had other synonyms, including bishop’s fist, pointing hand, digit, and fist.
A manicule is essentially a medieval version of a highlighter.
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