SWALLOWTAIL


Meaning of SWALLOWTAIL in English

/swol"oh tayl'/ , n.

1. the tail of a swallow or a deeply forked tail like that of a swallow.

2. any of several butterflies of the genus Papilio, characterized by elongated hind wings that resemble the tail of a swallow, as P. polyxenes (black swallowtail) . Cf. spicebush swallowtail, tiger swallowtail, zebra swallowtail .

3. See tail coat .

[ 1535-45; SWALLOW 2 + TAIL 1 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .