Totenkopf

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word Totenkopf. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word Totenkopf, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say Totenkopf in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word Totenkopf you have here. The definition of the word Totenkopf will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofTotenkopf, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

Borrowed from German Totenkopf (literally “dead person's head”).

Proper noun

Totenkopf

  1. (World War II) Ellipsis of 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf.

Noun

Totenkopf (plural Totenkopfs)

  1. (military) A death's head used as a military emblem.
    • 2024 March 25, Andrew Roth, Pjotr Sauer, “Russia lauding torture was unthinkable – now it is proud to do so”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:
      The officer who cut off Rachabalizoda’s ear had military patches including a far-right Totenkopf (dead person’s head) previously worn by Nazi SS units.

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Toter (“dead person”) +‎ Kopf (“head”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtoːtn̩ˌkɔp͡f/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Totenkopf m (strong, genitive Totenkopfes or Totenkopfs, plural Totenköpfe)

  1. death's head, skull and crossbones (symbol of death, piracy, etc.)
    • 1832, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust. Der Tragödie zweiter Teil [Faust, Part Two]‎:
      Dort wo die alten Schachteln stehn, / Hier im bebräunten Pergamen, / In staubigen Scherben alter Töpfe, / Dem Hohlaug’ jener Todtenköpfe.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1920, Rainer Maria Rilke, “Letzter Abend”, in Neue Gedichte‎, Leipzig: Insel-Verlag:
      Sein Spiel gab nach. Von draußen wehte Frische. / Und seltsam fremd stand auf dem Spiegeltische / der schwarze Tschako mit dem Totenkopf.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Declension

Declension of Totenkopf
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Totenkopf die Totenköpfe
genitive eines des Totenkopfes, Totenkopfs der Totenköpfe
dative einem dem Totenkopf, Totenkopfe1 den Totenköpfen
accusative einen den Totenkopf die Totenköpfe

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Further reading

  • “Totenkopf” in Duden online
  • “Totenkopf” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia