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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
Designed by David August, the suit is all-black velvet with an interior lining printed with skulls and crossbones.
—Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024
The club was renamed Real Bedford F.C., with the crest changed to a skull and crossbones and the nickname to the Pirates.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2023
Silver and black, the body pattern resembles a pirate’s skull and crossbones.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023
In April, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a photograph on its Twitter account of a soldier wearing a patch featuring a skull and crossbones known as the Totenkopf, or Death’s Head.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 5 June 2023
The Colony High School’s football team awards helmet stickers for each phase of the game: a skull and crossbones for defensive plays, gold stars for offense and cougar paws for special teams.
—oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023
Symbols of skulls and crossbones appeared on some, but not all, of these bottles; warning labels didn’t become consistent until the 1960s.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022
With a pirate Band-Aid decorated with skulls and crossbones left over from a layer of children—hers?
—Margaret Atwood, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skull and crossbones.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of skull and crossbones was
in 1826
Dictionary Entries Near skull and crossbones
Cite this Entry
“Skull and crossbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull%20and%20crossbones. Accessed 9 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
skull and crossbones
noun
skull and cross·bones
-ˈkrȯs-ˌbōnz
plural skulls and crossbones
: a representation of a human skull over crossbones used as a warning of danger to life
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