swastika

[ swos-ti-kuh or, esp. British, swas- ]
/ ˈswɒs tɪ kə or, esp. British, ˈswæs- /

noun

a figure used as a symbol or an ornament in the Old World and in America since prehistoric times, consisting of a cross with arms of equal length, each arm having a continuation at right angles.
this figure as the official emblem of the Nazi party and the Third Reich.

Origin of swastika

1850–55; < Sanskrit svastika, equivalent to su- good, well (cognate with Greek eu- eu-) + as- be (see is) + -ti- abstract noun suffix + -ka secondary noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM swastika

swas·ti·kaed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for swastika

British Dictionary definitions for swastika

swastika
/ (ˈswɒstɪkə) /

noun

a primitive religious symbol or ornament in the shape of a Greek cross, usually having the ends of the arms bent at right angles in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction
this symbol with clockwise arms, officially adopted in 1935 as the emblem of Nazi Germany

Word Origin for swastika

C19: from Sanskrit svastika, from svasti prosperity; from the belief that it brings good luck