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swallowtail

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swal⋅low⋅tail

  [swol-oh-teyl]
Use swallowtail in a Sentence
–noun
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). Compare spicebush swallowtail, tiger swallowtail, zebra swallowtail.
3. tail coat.
Origin:
1535–45; swallow 2 + tail 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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swal·low·tail   (swŏl'ŏ-tāl')   
n.  

    1. The deeply forked tail of a swallow.

    2. Something similar to the tail of a swallow.

  2. See tailcoat.

  3. Any of various colorful, widely distributed butterflies of the family Papilionidae, usually having an extension at the end of each hind wing that resembles the tails of certain swallows.

tail·coat   (tāl'kōt')   
n.  A man's black coat worn for formal daytime occasions and having a long rounded and split tail. Also called swallowtail, swallow-tailed coat.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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