swallowtail

American  

[swol-oh-teyl] / ˈswɒl oʊˌteɪl /

noun

1. the tail of a swallow or a deeply forked tail like that of a swallow.

2. any of several butterflies of the genus Papilio, characterized by elongated hindwings that resemble the tail of a swallow, such as P. polyxenes black swallowtail.

3. tailcoat.

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swallowtail British  

/ ˈswɒləʊˌteɪl /

noun

1. any of various butterflies of the genus Papilio and related genera, esp P. machaon of Europe, having a tail-like extension of each hind wing: family Papilionidae

2. the forked tail of a swallow or similar bird

3. short for swallow-tailed coat

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Etymology

Origin of swallowtail

First recorded in 1535–45; swallow ² + tail ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swallowtail

Aipa was the grandson of iconic shaper Ben Aipa, known for pioneering surfboard styles such as the sting and refining the design of the swallowtail in the 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

In particular, the Papilio xuthus, a yellow, Asian swallowtail butterfly, has not only blue, green and red, but also violet, ultraviolet and broadband receptors.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2023

Female Asian swallowtail butterflies, for instance, “make color choices depending on the odor,” Kelber says.

From Scientific American ● May 30, 2022

Catfield Fen, in the Ant Valley, along with nearby Sutton Fen, has 90% of the UK's rare fen orchids and swallowtail butterflies.

From BBC ● May 9, 2022

There were swallowtail flags snapping on the domes, and the sky was a mosaic of kites.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor