| 释义 |
death's-head|ˈdɛθshɛd|
[See death n. 1 c.]
1. The head of Death figured as a skeleton; a human skull; a figure or representation of a skull, esp. as an emblem of mortality.
1596Shakes. Merch. V. i. ii. 55, I had rather to be married to a deaths head with a bone in his mouth. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 255 Doe not speake like a Deaths-head: doe not bid me remember mine end. 1684Lond. Gaz. No. 1987/4 Several Jewels and Rings, one of which was Enamelled with a Deaths-head. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 659 Hermits and holy men are described sighing over death's heads, sobbing and groaning at their being men and not angels. 1822Scott Pirate xl, The old black flag, with the death's head and hour-glass. 1864Thackeray D. Duval ii, His appearance..was as cheerful as a death's head at a feast.
fig.1641May Old Couple iii. ii. (1810), As the two old death's-heads to-morrow morning Are to be join'd together.
†b. A ring with the figure of a skull. Obs.
(About 1600 commonly worn by procuresses.)
1605Marston Dutch Courtezan i. ii, Their wickednesse is always before their eyes, and a deathes-head most commonly on their middle finger. 1607Dekker Northward Hoe iv. Wks. 1873 III. 50 As if I were a bawd, no ring pleases me but a death's head. 1670Devout Commun. (1688) 8 Shall not I wear thy ring, who am so ready to wear a Death's-head to preserve alive the memorial of a dead friend?
2. A name given to a South American species of squirrel-monkey, Chrysothrix sciureus, from the appearance of its face and features.
3. attrib. death's-head moth, a large species of hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos), having markings on the back of the thorax resembling the figure of a skull.
1781J. Barbut Genera Insect. 179 Deaths-head moth..It has a grey irregular spot upon which are two black dots which very plainly represent a death's head, whence this insect takes its name. 1816Kirby & Sp. Entomol. (1843) II. 414 The bees..protected themselves from the attacks of the death's head moth..by closing the entrance of the hive. 1879Lubbock Sci. Lect. ii. 50 The Death's head hawk-moth caterpillar feeds on the potato. |