epaulette
NounSynonyms:
epaulet
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulderSynonyms: epauletType of adornmentKinds shoulder board, shoulder mark
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Ep′au·let′, Ep′au·lette′ noun
Origin: F. épaulette, dim. of épaule shoulder, fr. L. spatula a broad piece (LL., shoulder), dim. of spatha abroad, flat instrument, fr. Gr. …, also, a broad rib, shoulder blade. See Spade the instrument, and cf. Epaule, Spatula.
Military A shoulder ornament or badge worn by military and naval officers, differences of rank being marked by some peculiar form or device, as a star, eagle, etc.; a shoulder knot.
☞ In the United States service the epaulet is reserved for full dress uniform. Its use was abolished in the British army in 1855.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54