swallowtail
swallowtail Lexical Profile
swallowtail Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various large, typically brightly colored butterflies of the family Papilionidae, characterized by distinctive, tail-like extensions on the hindwings.
"The Eastern tiger swallowtail is a frequent visitor to summer gardens, easily recognizable by its bold yellow and black stripes."
A man's formal coat with a deeply forked back; a tailcoat.
"The orchestra conductor stepped onto the podium wearing a classic black swallowtail."
A deeply forked tail resembling that of a swallow, or an object (such as a flag or pennant) having this shape.
"The naval ship proudly flew a blue and white swallowtail from its main mast."
Word Origin & Etymology
From the compound of the English words 'swallow' (the bird) and 'tail', originally referring to the deeply forked shape of the bird's tail. The term was later applied to butterflies with similar wing extensions and coats with forked backs.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.