sugar skull

English

A Mexican sugar skull (sense 1)

Etymology

From the use of clay-moulded sugar in their preparation.

Noun

sugar skull (plural sugar skulls)

1. (in Mexico) A brightly coloured skull face icon, placed on the grave of the deceased to celebrate their life during festivals and feast days.

   Synonym: calavera

2. A more modern design of the same style, often done as a tattoo, and normally darker in colour and more macabre.