epaulette

Everyday

1. An epaulette is a decoration on the shoulder of a uniform, often with gold fringe or stripes showing a person's rank. tree →
2. A strap on the shoulder of a coat or shirt, used for style. tree →

In the lessons

Seen in history lessons and stories about soldiers, sailors, pilots and marching bands; it tells the reader that someone wears a smart or important uniform. Phrases: «gold epaulettes», «shoulder epaulettes».

Examples

• The captain's jacket had gold epaulettes. tree →
• Epaulettes show how important an officer is. tree →
• The band leader wore red epaulettes with tassels. tree →
• Pilots have stripes on their epaulettes. tree →
• My raincoat has little epaulettes on the shoulders. tree →
• In the old painting the admiral's epaulettes shone. tree →
• The toy soldier had painted epaulettes. tree →
• Count the stripes on the epaulette to find the rank. tree →

Note

British spelling epaulette, American epaulet. Say «EP-uh-let». Comes from French «épaule», shoulder. Countable noun.