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degen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
degen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
degen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
degen you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology 1
From German Degen (“dagger”).
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Noun
degen (plural degens)
- (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) Sword.
1828, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, chapter XXVIII, in Pelham: or The Adventures of a Gentleman, volume 1, New York: J. & J. Harper, page 228:"Crash the cull—down with him—down with him before he dubs the jigger. Tip him the degen, Fib, fake him through and through; if he pikes we shall all be scragged."
Etymology 2
Clipping of degenerate.
Pronunciation
Noun
degen (plural degens)
- (Internet slang) Degenerate.
Anagrams
Dutch
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle Dutch degen, from Middle High German degen, itself borrowed from Old French dague (“dagger”).
Noun
degen m (plural degens, diminutive degentje n)
- (fencing) epee
- duelling sword, court sword (slender sword used in duels and battles; distinct from a rapier)
Derived terms
Descendants
Etymology 2
From Middle Dutch degen, deghen, from Old Dutch *thegen, from Proto-West Germanic *þegn, 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)
- (archaic) hero, warrior, soldier
Swedish
Noun
degen
- definite singular of deg