swallowtail
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˈswɑloʊˌteɪl/
- Formal
:
chaqué
- Had that question been asked four or five days before the election, there is a very good chance that Mitt Romney would be getting fitted for a new swallowtail coat and a top hat today.
- swallowtail coat
Examples
-
He coughed discreetly into his fist, then, inclining towards me so that his black swallowtail opened gracefully, indicated a gilt-edged calling card.
Fiction book (1998) -
His swallowtail coat was already wrinkled, and his cravat was askew, and one of his spats was not entirely buttoned.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Unimposing, barely titled, and clearly in need of a fortune." Lily lifted a brow in the direction of the young man with an ill-fitting swallowtail and badly tied cravat.
Blog text (21) -
At the gala, he made a grand entrance in his elegant swallowtail jacket, impressing all the guests with his formal style.
-
The actor donned a classic white swallowtail coat as he walked the red carpet, looking dapper for the evening's awards ceremony.
-
For the wedding reception, he chose a tailored black swallowtail coat to complement his polished look with a bow tie.
Synonyms
2
8.2
A very formal men's suit with a coat that has a long back worn at special events
1
6.8
A formal coat with a short front and long tails at the back worn for evening events
A formal men's jacket with a cut-away front and two long tails worn for evening events
A formal evening jacket for men with a short front and long tails at the back
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word swallowtail comes from a formal jacket whose back splits into two long points, like the tail of a swallow 'bird' and the familiar tail 'back part'. So a dress jacket with these long, pointed back pieces is called a swallowtail.