Definition of "swastika"

swastika

/ˈswɒstɪkə/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural swastikas
1. (countable) A cross with arms of equal length all bent halfway along at a 90° angle to the right or to the left, used as a religious symbol by various ancient and modern civilizations, but now mainly seen and used in the West (with arms angled to the right) as a symbol of Nazism and fascism.
  Quotations
  This was signed by Dana Da, who added pentacles and pentagrams, and a crux ansata, and half-a-dozen swastikas, and a Triple Tau to his name, just to show that he was all he laid claim to be.
  1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Sending of Dana Da”, in In Black and White, Folio Society, published 2005, pages 423–4
  It is clear from archaeological finds that they enjoyed wearing Christian crosses, though they might enliven these with such symbols as the Indian swastika which Buddhists had brought them.
  2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 270
2. (fascism, history, metonymically, uncountable) Nazi rule.
  Quotations
  "Is that what you think of me? I believe in the Grail, not the Swastika!"
  1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, spoken by Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody)
  “I can’t imagine anyone believes in Communist culprits instead of a contract job commissioned on behalf of the swastika.”
  2011, Rudolph Herzog, translated by Jefferson Chase, Dead Funny: Humor in Hitler's Germany‎, Brooklyn: Melville House, page 36