epaulette

US epaulet

/ (ˈɛpəˌlɛt, -lɪt) /

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noun

a piece of ornamental material on the shoulder of a garment, esp a military uniform

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Word Origin for epaulette

C18: from French épaulette, from épaule shoulder, from Latin spatula shoulder blade; see spatula

Words nearby epaulette

eparchy, e-passport, épatant, épaulement, epaulet, epaulette, epaulette tree, épaulière, epaxial, e-payment, epazote

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use epaulette in a sentence

He wore an epaulette nearly down to his elbow, and his sword hilt was embroidered with golden oak leaves.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor|Helen Leah Reed
They were made without sleeves, like a waistcoat, and an epaulette overhung the armhole.
English Costume|Dion Clayton Calthrop
An officer with one epaulette came first, showing the way to two civilians, and a captain followed.
The Wing-and-Wing|J. Fenimore Cooper
We saw the burnished cannon and the bright epaulette, the gleaming button and the glancing bayonet.
The Rifle Rangers|Captain Mayne Reid

Each flower was centered with a bit of gold from a raveled Confederate epaulette.
The Stronghold|Miriam Haynie