English

Alternative forms

• skull-and-crossbones

Noun

skull and crossbones ‎(plural skull and crossbones or skulls and crossbones)

1. An outline of a human skull and two crossed bones; a symbol of death traditionally used on the Jolly Roger, but now used as a warning on poisons.
   • 1973, Richard C. Colton, Practical handbook of industrial traffic management‎, page 579:

     When poisons are involved, red skull and crossbones are added.

   • 1994, William G. Boltz, The origin and early development of the Chinese writing system‎, page 16:

     The skull and crossbones is, to be sure, a visual sign that communicates a very specific meaning.

   • 1996, Cary Nelson; Jefferson Hendricks, Madrid 1937: letters of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade from the Spanish, page 554:

     There was a big red cross in the center and around it were two skull and crossbones

   • 2005, Jason Corburn, Street science: community knowledge and environmental health justice, page 182:

     Skulls and crossbones- were used to label toxic storage sites

See also

• ☠

See also

• skull and crossbones on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Translations