Teuton

views updated Jun 11 2018

Teu·ton / ˈt(y)oōtn/ • n. a member of a people who lived in Jutland in the 4th century bc and fought the Romans in France in the 2nd century bc. ∎ often derog. a German.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

Teuton

views updated Jun 11 2018

Teuton member of a people of unknown race reckoned among the peoples of Germania. XVIII. — L. Teutonī, Teutones (pl.), f. IE. base meaning ‘people’, ‘country’, ‘land’.
So Teutonic pert. to this people, later identified with Germanic. XVII. — F. teutonique — L. Teutonicus. Comb. form Teut(o)- XIX.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Teuton

views updated May 29 2018

Teuton a member of a people who lived in Jutland in the 4th century bc and fought the Romans in France in the 2nd century bc; from the mid 19th century, the term was used generally to denote Germanic-speaking races and peoples.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES