degen

From German Degen (“dagger”).

• degan, dagen

• IPA^(key): /ˈdeɪɡən/

degen (plural degens)

1. (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."

Clipping of degenerate.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdiːd͡ʒɛn/

degen (plural degens)

1. (Internet slang) Degenerate.

• Gen Ed, Gen-ed, Gen. Ed., gen ed, gen. ed.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdeː.ɣə(n)/

• Audio

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• Hyphenation: de‧gen
• Rhymes: -eːɣən

From Middle Dutch degen, from Middle High German degen, itself borrowed from Old French dague (“dagger”).

degen m (plural degens, diminutive degentje n)

1. (fencing) epee
2. duelling sword, court sword (slender sword used in duels and battles; distinct from a rapier)

• degenkrab
• degenkunst
• houwdegen

• Afrikaans: degen
• Negerhollands: deegen
• → Papiamentu: degel (dated)
• → West Frisian: degen

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).

degen m (plural degens, diminutive degentje n)

1. (archaic) hero, warrior, soldier

degen

1. definite singular of deg