skull and crossbones

noun

plural skulls and crossbones

: a representation of a human skull over crossbones usually used as a warning of danger to life

Examples of skull and crossbones in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Banksy has riffed on the Virgin and Child theme before: His 2003 work Toxic Mary portrays a Madonna figures feeding a child milk from a bottle emblazoned with a skull and crossbones. —

George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024 The email included a chart showing a skull and crossbones at around that depth. —

Mark Harris, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024 Stokes, who has long hair and glasses, giving him the look of a scientific David Foster Wallace, decorated his office with a poster of a skull and crossbones. —

Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 Lola fashioned a pair of baggy light blue jeans with a worn leather jacket and a shirt featuring a skull and crossbones. —

Julia Teti, WWD, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for skull and crossbones

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of skull and crossbones was in 1826

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Skull and crossbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull%20and%20crossbones. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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