Degen

See also: degen

English

Etymology

• As a German and Alemannic German surname, from the noun Degen (“boy warrior, hero”).
• As a German and Dutch surname, shortened from names like Degenhard, Degenhold, etc., with the same meaning as the above.

In isolated cases it can also be from Degen (“rapier”), for someone who made or wore such weapons, and from Middle High German dechen (“dean”, modern German Dechant).

Proper noun

Degen (plural Degens)

1. A surname from German.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Degen is the 14838^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 1997 individuals. Degen is most common among White (94.24%) individuals.

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Degen”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 1, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 425.

Anagrams

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

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdeːɡən/, [ˈdeː.ɡŋ̍], [-ɡən]

• Audio (Berlin):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: De‧gen

Etymology 1

Illustration of "Degen" from Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon (6th edition, 1905), showing weapons that in English would be variously classed as rapier, smallsword, broadsword or sabre.

Since ca. 1400, at first as degen, but also dege, dägen, tägen. Usually derived from Middle French dague, but the origin of the e-vocalism is unclear. An eastern dialectal *degue is possible, but apparently unattested, whereas Czech dýka is considered a borrowing from German. See French dague and Italian daga for more. Probably also related with the family of English dagger.

From the 17th century, the sense “dagger” is restricted to Dolch, while Degen comes to refer to longer weapons, especially thrust-oriented dueling swords. By the 18th century it was used of any sword worn as part of a uniform.

Noun

Degen m (strong, genitive Degens, plural Degen)

1. rapier, smallsword
2. (fencing) épée
3. (obsolete) dagger

Declension

Declension of Degen [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Degen	die	Degen
genitive	eines	des	Degens	der	Degen
dative	einem	dem	Degen	den	Degen
accusative	einen	den	Degen	die	Degen

Derived terms

• Degengriff
• Degenklinge
• Degenschlucker
• Degenstoß
• Haudegen
• Mantel-und-Degen-Film
• Offiziersdegen
• Stockdegen
• Stoßdegen

 

See also

• Florett
• Schwert

Etymology 2

From Middle High German dëgen, from Old High German degan.

Cognate with Dutch degen, English thane, Icelandic þegn, Ancient Greek τέκνον (téknon). The word had become archaic by 1500, but was revived in poetic style since the later 18th century. This use may be a learned borrowing from Middle High German as there appear to be no attestations between ca. 1650 and 1750.

Noun

Degen m (strong, genitive Degens, plural Degen)

2. (archaic, poetic, history) hero, warrior, soldier

Declension

Declension of Degen [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Degen	die	Degen
genitive	eines	des	Degens	der	Degen
dative	einem	dem	Degen	den	Degen
accusative	einen	den	Degen	die	Degen

Derived terms

• Haudegen (partially)

Further reading

• “Degen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Degen” in Duden online
• “Degen” in Duden online