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

While that swallowtail languished in my board bag, the wide, early-rise nose of the Transition Finder provided unbelievable buoyancy on hip-deep tree runs, mini-truck-sized pillow poppers, and sidecountry sojourns. —Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024

For example, some swallowtail butterflies, particularly the black swallowtail, use plants in the parsley family as host plants. —Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2024

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

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