Standard Lemma guide

crossbones

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɹɒsbəʊnz/
  • General-American: /ˈkɹɔsboʊnz/
  • General-American: /ˈkɹɑs-/
  • CMU ARPABET: K R AO1 S B OW2 N Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A representation of two femurs (thighbones) crossed diagonally, chiefly combined with a human skull as a symbol of danger or death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

two crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or death

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: symbol, symbolization, symbolisation, symbolic representation

History

Etymology

From cross + bones.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: luut ristissä — representation of two femurs crossed diagonally