n. & adj.
n. 1 a native or national of Germany; a person of German descent. 2 the language of Germany, also used in Austria and Switzerland.
adj. of or relating to Germany or its people or language. German measles a contagious disease, rubella, with symptoms like mild measles. German shepherd (or shepherd dog) an Alsatian. German silver a white alloy of nickel, zinc, and copper. High German a literary and cultured form of German. Low German German dialects other than High German.
[ L Germanus with ref. to related peoples of Central and n. Europe, a name perh. given by Celts to their neighbours: cf. OIr. gair neighbour ]