Epaulet

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Epaulet \Ep"au*let`\, Epaulette \Ep"au*lette`\, n. [F.
     ['e]paulette, dim. of ['e]paule shoulder, fr. L. spatula a
     broad piece (LL., shoulder), dim. of spatha abroad, flat
     instrument, fr. Gr. ?, also, a broad rib, shoulder blade. See
     {Spade} the instrument, and cf. {Epaule}, {Spatula}.] (Mil.)
     A shoulder ornament or badge worn by military and naval


     officers, differences of rank being marked by some peculiar
     form or device, as a star, eagle, etc.; a shoulder knot.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In the United States service the epaulet is reserved
           for full dress uniform. Its use was abolished in the
           British army in 1855. Epauleted

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  epaulet
       n : adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the
           shoulder [syn: {epaulette}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  22 Moby Thesaurus words for "epaulet":
     Hershey bar, aviation badge, badge, bar, chevron, chicken, eagle,
     hash mark, insignia of branch, oak leaf, organization insignia,
     overseas bar, parachute badge, patch, pip, service stripe,
     shoulder patch, shoulder sleeve insignia, spread eagle, star,
     stripe, submarine badge
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  EPAULET, n.  An ornamented badge, serving to distinguish a military
  officer from the enemy -- that is to say, from the officer of lower
  rank to whom his death would give promotion.