- skull and crossbones
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a representation of a front view of a human skull above two crossed bones, originally used on pirates' flags and now used as a warning sign, as in designating substances as poisons.[1820-30]
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Universalium. 2010.
skull and crossbones
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Skull and crossbones — is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two long bones crossed together under the skull. It is used in several contexts: Skull and crossbones (poison), the use of the symbol as a warning of danger (usually in regard to poisonous substances)… … Wikipedia
Skull and crossbones — Skull Skull, n. [OE. skulle, sculle, scolle; akin to Scot. skull, skoll, a bowl, Sw. skalle skull, skal a shell, and E. scale; cf. G. hirnschale, Dan. hierneskal. Cf. {Scale} of a balance.] 1. (Anat.) The skeleton of the head of a vertebrate… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
skull and crossbones — n [singular] 1.) a picture of a human skull with two bones crossed below it, used in past times on the flags of ↑pirate ships 2.) a picture of a human skull with two bones crossed below it, used on containers to show that what is inside is poison … Dictionary of contemporary English
skull and crossbones — ► skull and crossbones a representation of a skull with two thigh bones crossed below it as an emblem of piracy or death. Main Entry: ↑skull … English terms dictionary
skull and crossbones — n. a human skull facing forward with two long bones crossed beneath it, as formerly pictured on pirates flags: now used as a warning sign, as on poisons … English World dictionary
skull and crossbones — noun emblem warning of danger or death • Hypernyms: ↑emblem • Part Holonyms: ↑black flag, ↑pirate flag, ↑Jolly Roger, ↑blackjack * * * noun (plural skulls … Useful english dictionary
skull and crossbones — N SING A skull and crossbones is a picture of a human skull above a pair of crossed bones which warns of death or danger. It used to appear on the flags of pirate ships and is now sometimes found on containers holding poisonous substances. Skull… … English dictionary
skull-and-crossbones — A particularly dreadful client or person with whom you no longer want to do business or have contact. When he refused to pay me for my work, he became a skull and crossbones file … Dictionary of american slang
skull-and-crossbones — A particularly dreadful client or person with whom you no longer want to do business or have contact. When he refused to pay me for my work, he became a skull and crossbones file … Dictionary of american slang
skull and crossbones — skull′ and cross′bones n. pl. skulls and crossbones. a representation of a front view of a human skull above two crossed bones, orig. used on pirates flags and now used as a warning sign, as in identifying poisons • Etymology: 1820–30 … From formal English to slang
skull and crossbones — skull and cross|bones [ ,skʌl ən krɔs,bounz ] noun singular a picture of two crossed bones under a skull. It was used in the past on ships belonging to PIRATES (=sailors that attacked and stole from other ships) and is now used for warning of… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
