Word of the Day

noun

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn." — From Henry David Thoreau's 1854 novel Walden

"Military-inspired outerwear: It's baaack — but with a twist. Sharp shoulders and button, zipper, epaulet and grommet details on peacoats, trenches and officer coats add a dose of fashionable force and edge to traditional pieces." — From an article by Sara Bauknecht in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 21, 2012

The epaulet gets its name from what it covers — the shoulder. It comes from the French word "épaulette," the diminutive of "épaule," meaning shoulder. (Another accepted spelling of the English word — "epaulette" — mirrors the French.) "Épaule" itself, though, comes from the Latin word "spatha," meaning "spoon" or "sword." This Latin word (which traces back to Greek "spathē," meaning "blade of a sword" or "oar") is also the root of the word "spade" — as in the playing card suit. (The digging implement "spade" is also a relative though the connection is less direct.)

Word Family Quiz: What relative of "epaulet" refers to a kitchen tool used for spreading, mixing, or lifting? The answer is ...

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