epaulette
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of epaulette
C18: from French épaulette, from épaule shoulder, from Latin spatula shoulder blade; see spatula
Explanation
An epaulette is a shoulder piece that's part of many military uniforms. It's a type of colorful decoration that sometimes signifies rank. If you look at a military uniform, there are many things you might see, such as stripes and medals. Another is epaulettes, which are ornamentations found on the shoulders. Epaulettes are usually colorful, and they often convey a higher rank. You probably wouldn't find epaulettes on a foot soldier, but you probably would on a general. Epaulettes will vary in size and color depending on the rank and branch of the military. Epaulette comes from a French word for shoulder.
Vocabulary lists containing epaulette
Lord of the Flies
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Power Suffix: -ette
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Patron Saints of Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to Prof Rummer, epaulette sharks seem to have evolved an unusually efficient system.
From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026
An epaulette which includes a precious stone known as the Dresden White Diamond is still missing.
From BBC • Dec. 17, 2022
Pieces still missing include an epaulette on which a precious stone known as the Dresden White Diamond was mounted.
From Reuters • Dec. 17, 2022
A few species of epaulette sharks have evolved to move their pectoral fins in the front and pelvic fins in the back to plod along outside the water at low tide.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2022
He was a proud and ambitious man, and my small fortune and lieutenant's epaulette by no means qualified me in his eyes to become his son-in-law.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 56, Number 350, December 1844 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
