What is "saxon"

Saxon \Sax"on\ (s[a^]ks"[u^]n or -'n), n. [L. Saxo, pl. Saxones, from the Saxon national name; cf. AS. pl. Seaxe, Seaxan, fr. seax a knife, a short sword, a dagger (akin to OHG. sahs, and perhaps to L. saxum rock, stone, knives being originally made of stone); and cf. G. Sachse, pl. Sachsen. Cf. Saxifrage.]

1. 1. One of a nation or people who formerly dwelt in the northern part of Germany, and who, with other Teutonic tribes, invaded and conquered England in the fifth and sixth centuries.

   2. Also used in the sense of Anglo-Saxon.

   3. A native or inhabitant of modern Saxony.

2. The language of the Saxons; Anglo-Saxon.

   Old Saxon, the Saxon of the continent of Europe in the old form of the language, as shown particularly in the ``Heliand'', a metrical narration of the gospel history preserved in manuscripts of the 9th century.

Saxon \Sax"on\, a. Of or pertaining to the Saxons, their country, or their language. (b) Anglo-Saxon. (c) Of or pertaining to Saxony or its inhabitants.

Saxon blue (Dyeing), a deep blue liquid used in dyeing, and obtained by dissolving indigo in concentrated sulphuric acid.
--Brande & C.

Saxon green (Dyeing), a green color produced by dyeing with yellow upon a ground of Saxon blue.

German \Ger"man\, n.; pl. Germans[L. Germanus, prob. of Celtis origin.]

1. A native or one of the people of Germany.

2. The German language.

3. 1. A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures.

   2. A social party at which the german is danced.

      High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German, used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German, and the Southern German dialects Upper German; but High German is also used to cover both groups.

      Low German, the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, -- including Friesic; Anglo-Saxon or Saxon; Old Saxon; Dutch or Low Dutch, with its dialect, Flemish; and Plattdeutsch (called also Low German), spoken in many dialects.

c.1200, from Late Latin Saxonem (nominative Saxo; also source of French Saxon, Spanish Sajon, Italian Sassone), usually found in plural Saxones, from a Germanic source (Old English Seaxe, Old High German Sahsun, German Sachse "Saxon"), with a possible literal sense of "swordsmen" (compare Old English seax, Old Frisian, Old Norse sax "knife, short sword, dagger," Old High German Saxnot, name of a war-god), from Proto-Germanic *sahsam "knife," from PIE *sek- "to cut" (see section (n.)).\n

\nThe word figures in the well-known story, related by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who got it from Nennius, of the treacherous slaughter by the Anglo-Saxons of their British hosts:Accordingly they all met at the time and place appointed, and began to treat of peace; and when a fit opportunity offered for executing his villany, Hengist cried out, "Nemet oure Saxas," and the same instant seized Vortigern, and held him by his cloak. The Saxons, upon the signal given, drew their daggers, and falling upon the princes, who little suspected any such design, assassinated them to the number of four hundred and sixty barons and consuls ....The OED editors helpfully point out that the correct Old English (with an uninflected plural) would be nimað eowre seax. For other Germanic national names that may have derived from characteristic tribal weapons, see Frank, Lombard. As an adjective from 1560s. Still in 20c. used by Celtic speakers to mean "an Englishman" (Welsh Sais, plural Seison "an Englishman;" Seisoneg "English").\n

\nIn reference to the modern German state of Saxony (German Sachsen, French Saxe) it is attested from 1630s. Saxon is the source of the -sex in Essex, Sussex, etc. (compare Middlesex, from Old English Middel-Seaxe "Middle Saxons"). Bede distinguished the Anglo-Saxons, who conquered much of southern Britain, from the Ealdesaxe "Old Saxons," who stayed in Germany.

The Saxon is an armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army and supplied in small numbers to various overseas organisations. It was developed by GKN Sankey from earlier projects, AT 100 IS and AT104, and was due to be replaced by the Future Rapid Effect System. It was first produced by Alvis plc.

The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes during the Early Middle Ages, and formed part of the merged group of Anglo-Saxons.

Saxon may also refer to:

Saxon is the debut studio album by the English heavy metal band Saxon, released in 1979 (see 1979 in music).

Saxon is a 2007 independent British film.

The film is written and directed by Greg Loftin, produced by Elise Valmorbida and starring Sean Harris in his first feature lead role.

The world premiere on 22 August 2007 was part of the British Gala selection of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Saxon (1871–1895) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1874 Belmont Stakes, the eighth running of that stakes race.

Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1977, in South Yorkshire. As one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal, they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. The band also had numerous singles in the UK Singles Chart and chart success all over Europe and Japan, as well as success in the US. During the 1980s Saxon established themselves as one of Europe's biggest metal acts. The band tours regularly and have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. They are considered one of the classic metal acts and have influenced many bands such as Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Pantera, Sodom, and Megadeth.

The Saxon is a rapidly spinning ground based firework that is basic in design and construction.

There are slight variations but typically the Saxon consists of two tubes which are filled with composition and have a clay plug at the end. They are joined in the centre by wooden dowel and pivot at point in the middle. It is driven by exhaust or vents located on the sides of the tube near the end plugs which are at right angles to the tube axis. Depending on the pyrotechnic compositions used, the Saxons effect can range from tight, compact circles of delicate, lacey orange sparks to huge, brilliant silver and white displays twenty feet or more in diameter. The Saxon is normally mounted on a post or structure about 10 feet from the ground.

The Saxon was an automobile produced by the Saxon Motor Car Company, from 1913 to 1923. The company was based in Detroit and then Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Originally, in 1913, Saxon offered a small two seat roadster, that featured either a 2- or 3-speed rear axle gearbox, priced at $395.00. It had headlights, as an extra option. In 1915, electric lighting was standard.

Also available in 1915 was the Saxon Six, a five-passenger tourer, with a 30-35 hp (22-26 kW) six, electric starter and headlights, on a 112 in (2845 mm) wheelbase and 32×3½-inch (81×8.9 cm) wheels, all for US$785.

In its peak year of 1916, 27,800 Saxons were produced. After 1921, later models were known as the Saxon-Duplex. The last Saxon cars were sold in 1923.

Saxon is an English toponymic surname. The name is derived from the Old English Seaxe tun, meaning "Saxon village".

Saxon is the given name of:

• Saxon W. Holt (1871-1940), American politician
• Saxon Rice (born 1976), Australian politician
• Saxon Sharbino (born 1999), American actress
• Saxon White (born 1934), American medical researcher and academic and former rugby union player