SWALLOWTAIL

Etymology

Noun

swallowtail (plural swallowtails)

The forked tail of a swallow.

Anything, such as a burgee, of a similar forked shape.

A type of tailcoat with two long tapering tails.^Wp

Any of various butterflies of the family Papilionidae, many of which have a long extension to each hindwing.

Source: Wiktionary

Swal"low*tail`, n.

1. (Carp.)

Definition: A kind of tenon or tongue used in making joints. See Dovetail.

2. (Bot.)

Definition: A species of willow.

3. (Fort.)

Definition: An outwork with converging sides, its head or front forming a reëntrant angle; -- so called from its form. Called also priestcap.

4. A swallow-tailed coat. This Stultz coat, a blue swallowtail, with yellow buttons. Thackeray.

5. An arrow. Sir W. Scott.

6. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of numerous species of large and handsome butterflies, belonging to Papilio and allied genera, in which the posterior border of each hind wing is prolongated in the form of a long lobe.

Note: The black swallowtail, or asterias (see Papilio), the blue swallowtail, or philenor, the tiger swallowtail, or turnus (see Turnus), and the zebra swallowtail, or ajax (see under Zebra) are common American species. See also Troilus.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition