Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TEU-TON'IC, a.

Pertaining to the Teutons, a people of Germany, or to their language; as a noun, the language of the Teutons, the parent of the German, Dutch, and Anglo-Saxon or native English. Teutonic order, a military religious order of knights, established toward the close of the twelfth century, in imitation of the Templars and Hospitalers. It was composed chiefly of Teutons or Germans, who marched to the Holy Land in the crusades, and was established in that country for charitable purposes. It increased in numbers and strength till it became master of all Prussia, Livonia and Pomerania. Cyc.