German

Noun

Degen m ‎(genitive Degens, plural Degen)

1. hero, warrior, soldier

Derived terms

• degenheit (16th century) "bravery, courage"
• brût-degen "husband, bridegroom"
• Personal names: edil-degan drût-degan heri-degan swert-degan, diet-degen, volc-degen

Etymology 2

Illustration of "Degen" from Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon (6th edition, 1905), showing weapons that in English would be variously classed as rapier, smallsword, broadsword or sabre.

Related to French dague and English dagger. The etymology of these terms is unclear. Some suggest that the French is a loan from the German, while others suggest the inverse. If taken from the French, the ultimate origin may be a hypothetical Latin *daca "Dacian [knife]".

15th century (degen, tegen, tägen, dägen, dim. däglin), together with Dolch replacing Middle High German mezzer (Messer). From the 17th century, the meaning "dagger" is restricted to Dolch while Degen comes to refer to longer weapons, especially thrust-oriented dueling swords, by the 18th century referring to any sword worn as part of a uniform.

Noun

Degen m ‎(genitive Degens, plural Degen)

1. (obsolete) dagger
2. rapier, smallsword
3. (fencing) épée

English

Alternative forms

• degan
• dagen

Noun

degen ‎(plural degens)

1. (cant) Sword.

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eːɣən

Etymology 1

Noun

degen m ‎(plural degens, diminutive degentje n)

1. (fencing) epee

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch degen, deghen, from Proto-Germanic *þegnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tek-. Cognate with German Degen, English thane, Icelandic þegn, Ancient Greek τέκνον ‎(téknon).

Noun

degen m ‎(plural degens, diminutive degentje n)

1. (archaic) hero, warrior, soldier

Swedish

Noun

degen

1. definite singular of deg