Degen

Meaning

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

Concepts

epee

sword

foil

ovipositor

rapier

saber

sabre

scalpel

stinger

side arms

claymore

service sword

dart

🎯

Synonyms

Säbel

Schwert

Seitengewehr

Stoßdegen

Fechtdegen

Rapier

Klinge

Recke

Schürhaken

Zwangslage

Langschwert

Bajonett

Fechtwaffe

Dolch

🗡️

Florett

Kasserolle

Katana

Kehle

Translations

spada

épée

espada

degen

kılıç

estoque

rapière

espada

epe

espasa

zijdgeweer

Schotse degen

florete

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdeːɡən/

Etymology

Cognate with Czech: dýka

Cognate with French: dague

Cognate with Italian: daga

Cognate with English: dagger

Borrowed from Middle High German: dëgen

Cognate with Dutch: degen

Cognate with English: thane

Cognate with Icelandic: þegn

Cognate with Ancient Greek: τέκνον

In summary

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.