swallowtail

noun

swal·​low·​tail ˈswä-lō-ˌtāl 

-lə-

1

: a deeply forked and tapering tail (as of a swallow)

2

: tailcoat

3

: any of various usually large brightly marked butterflies (family Papilionidae, especially genus Papilio) with each hind wing typically having an elongated process

swallow-tailed

ˈswä-lō-ˌtāld 

-lə-

adjective

Illustration of swallowtail

• swallowtail 3

Examples of swallowtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the right, a wood thrush is perched on the branch of a spicebush while a spicebush swallowtail flies overhead. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 July 2024

What to do: Control for swallowtail butterflies is not necessary. —Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024

Its unique swallowtail design was by John Eisemann. —Olivia Munson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Jan. 2024

The team was also able to capture a honeybee's view of a caterpillar's anti-predator display; a zebra swallowtail butterfly foraging on flowers; a closeup shot of a leaf-footed bug egg; and a jumping spider. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swallowtail

• black swallowtail
• tiger swallowtail

Kids Definition

swallowtail

noun

swal·​low·​tail ˈswäl-ō-ˌtāl 

1

: a deeply forked and tapering tail (as of a swallow)

2

: any of various usually large butterflies in which the hind wing is elongated into a process that resembles a tail

swallow-tailed

ˌswäl-ō-ˈtāld

adjective