Saint Andrew's cross

noun

Saint An·​drew's cross -ˈan-ˌdrüz- How to pronounce Saint Andrew's cross (audio)
variants or St. Andrew's cross
: a figure of a cross that has the form of two intersecting oblique bars see cross illustration

Word History

Etymology

St. Andrew died about a.d. 60, apostle who, according to tradition, was crucified on a cross of this type

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Saint Andrew's cross was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near Saint Andrew's cross

Cite this Entry

“Saint Andrew's cross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saint%20Andrew%27s%20cross. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Saint Andrew's cross

noun
Saint An·​drew's cross -ˌan-ˌdrüz- How to pronounce Saint Andrew's cross (audio)
: a cross shaped like the letter X

More from Merriam-Webster on Saint Andrew's cross

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!