MEANING
Two bones arranged or pictured in an X shape, often beneath a skull.
Use it for
describing a death or poison warning symbol; identifying crossed bones beneath a skull; using a recognizable emblem of danger in a scene; distinguishing a pictured symbol from actual bodily remainsIdentifies the crossed-bone element of a death or danger emblem, rather than actual scattered skeletal remains. Writing functions: Macabre / Morbid.
Words that belong together
- skull and crossbones
- a crossbones emblem
- a crossbones warning
On the page
The faded label still showed crossbones beneath a grinning skull.
Crossbones were carved into the cupboard door, but the bottles inside were unmarked.
Word forms
- Base
- crossbones
Usage notes
Plural-only noun: crossbones are; a pair of crossbones. Do not invent crossboneses or count a singular crossbone as the same emblem. Skull and crossbones is a usage frame, not a separately added phrase in this word-only batch. Register: neutral. Commonness: moderately common in descriptions of warning or pirate imagery (dictionary-informed qualitative editorial estimate; not a measured frequency).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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