epaulet

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A shoulder ornament, especially a fringed strap worn on military uniforms.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A shoulder-piece; an ornamental badge worn on the shoulder; specifically, a strap proceeding from the collar, and terminating on the shoulder in a disk, from which depends a fringe of cord, usually in bullion, but sometimes in worsted or other material, according to the rank of the wearer, etc. Epaulets were worn in the British army until 1855, and are still worn in the navy by all officers of and above the rank of lieutenant, and by some civil officers. They were worn by all officers in the United States army until 1872; since that time only general officers wear them; all other commissioned officers wear shoulder-knots of gold bullion. All United States naval officers above the grade of ensign wear epaulets. In the French army the private soldiers wear epaulets of worsted. See shoulder-strap, shoulder-knot.
2. n. The shoulder-piece in the armor of the fourteenth century, especially when small and fitting closely to the person, as compared with the large pauldron of later days.
3. n. The shoulder-covering of splints forming part of the light and close-fitting armor of the sixteenth century.
4. n. In dressmaking, an ornament for the shoulder, its form changing with the different fashions.
5. n. In entomology, the tegula or plate covering the base of the anterior wing in hymenopterous insects.

Wiktionary

1. n. A decoration or flourish worn on the shoulders, as on a uniform.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Mil.) A shoulder ornament or badge worn by military and naval officers, differences of rank being marked by some peculiar form or device, as a star, eagle, etc.; a shoulder knot.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. adornment consisting of an ornamental cloth pad worn on the shoulder