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Glite Dictionary
accouterment

accouterment

2 9.9
An extra item for clothing and gear, like a bag or scarf
  • noun
  • /əˈkuːtərmənt/
  • US
translation icon : accesorio
  • Once there, he flicked open a latch and lifted the lid to reveal two dueling pistols and their accouterments.
  • other accouterments

I'm not doing tennis with this accoutrement to my head.

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Examples

  • Meanwhile, U.S. television demonstrates the accouterments of manhood: guns, fancy cars, stylish clothes, and, above all else, money.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The tangle of girl accouterments on my floor was almost as big as the girl.

    Blog text (15)

  • Bring down that and show you how this works and talk about some accouterments of middle class culture that you will recognize many of you.

  • OK, first up, let's get all the accoutrement off, all the bits and pieces.

  • To his customary elegant attire, he has added a careless accouterment, a Tyrolean hat.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The accouterments in the car—and the crackle of a police radio—make us realize it's an unmarked police car.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The hikers packed all the necessary accouterments, including climbing gear and first aid kits.

  • At the themed party, everyone wore historical accouterments to enhance their costumes.

  • The chef displayed his favorite cooking accouterments, such as unique knives and specialized pans.

Synonyms

accessory
vsaccouterment
75 3.9

A small item worn or carried to make clothes look nicer

is any extra dress or equipment item, not only fashion pieces
accoutrement
vsaccouterment
  • UK
10 9.9

An extra thing you wear or carry for a particular use, like jewelry

is the general extra item not limited to specific activities
appurtenance
vsaccouterment
  • Formal
1 9.9

A thing that is not necessary but makes the main thing more useful like a tool or cover

is primarily an item of dress or equipment, not mainly for convenience

How Essential

equipment
∞ 1.9
gear
499 2.1
accouterment
  • US
2 9.9
accessory
75 3.9
ornament
102 1.6

Surface Forms

accouterment singular
accouterments plural
accoutrements plural
accoutrement singular

Morphology

accouterment = accouter (semi-transparent) = accouter + ment

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ment' to the verb 'accouter'; the derivation is regular but both verb and noun are relatively literary/rare, so the relation may not be obvious to average learners.

Etymology

The word accouterment comes from a French word accoutre that meant 'to dress' or 'to outfit', so it was used for the clothes and gear people put on. That's why an accouterment is an extra piece of clothing or equipment, like a bag, scarf, or part of armor, that completes an outfit.