Swallowtail

Swallowtail Swal"low*tail`, n. 1. (Carp.) A kind of tenon or tongue used in making joints. See {Dovetail}. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) A species of willow. [1913 Webster]

3. (Fort.) An outwork with converging sides, its head or front forming a re["e]ntrant angle; -- so called from its form. Called also {priestcap}. [1913 Webster]

4. A swallow-tailed coat. [1913 Webster]

This Stultz coat, a blue swallowtail, with yellow buttons. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

5. An arrow. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large and handsome butterflies, belonging to Papilio and allied genera, in which the posterior border of each hind wing is prolongated in the form of a long lobe. [1913 Webster]

Note: The black swallowtail, or asterias (see {Papilio}), the blue swallowtail, or philenor, the tiger swallowtail, or turnus (see {Turnus}), and the zebra swallowtail, or ajax (see under {Zebra}) are common American species. See also {Troilus}. [1913 Webster]