accouterment

[uh-koo-ter-muh nt, -truh-]

See more synonyms for accouterment on Thesaurus.com

noun

personal clothing, accessories, etc.
the equipment, excluding weapons and clothing, of a soldier.

Also especially British, ac·cou·tre·ment.

Origin of accouterment

From the Middle French word accou(s)trement, dating back to 1540–50. See accouter, -ment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for accoutrements

bag, material, container, gear, apparatus, regalia, machinery, habit, garb, vestment, uniform, costume, apparel, dress, getup, clothes, equipment, paraphernalia, luggage, trappings

Examples from the Web for accoutrements

Contemporary Examples of accoutrements

These gentlemen, said Clausewitz in brief, had the misfortune of mistaking the accoutrements of war for its essential nature.
How Clausewitz Invented Modern War
James A. Warren
November 24, 2014
Power, and the accoutrements of power, would fill the vacuum created by the absence of ideas.
Why Pakistan's Mohammed Ali Jinnah Was No Nelson Mandela
Kapil Komireddi
April 7, 2013
As with other accoutrements of the high-end lifestyle, not all backup generators are created equal.
After Storm, Who’s Got the Real Power? Look for Backup Generators
Daniel Gross
October 30, 2012

Historical Examples of accoutrements

Their accoutrements clattered and clinked in the intense stillness.
The Crimson Tide
Robert W. Chambers
To pass, the uniform and accoutrements of a soldier are not enough.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915
Various
The cavalry dashed off amid a jingling of swords and accoutrements.
The Coming Conquest of England
August Niemann
At the foot you will find my uniform, rifle, and accoutrements.
Through Three Campaigns
G. A. Henty
They had not discarded their accoutrements and each man had his sword by his side.
"Unto Caesar"
Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Word Origin and History for accoutrements

1540s, from Middle French accoustrement (Modern French accoutrement), from accoustrer probably from Old French acostrer "arrange," originally "sew up" (see accouter)