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

Conservationists say restoring milk parsley is a crucial first step in bringing back the swallowtail, because without it the butterflies cannot breed.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 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

His smelly old swallowtail coat was hopelessly outdated by then, but he wouldn’t hear of parting with it.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly