What does ailette mean?
Ailette is a rare English noun with two related senses. In its broader sense, it means a small wing or winglike part. In military and heraldic contexts, however, it can refer to a narrow ornamental piece or braid associated with a uniform's shoulder. The word is therefore encountered chiefly in technical description rather than ordinary speech. In a sentence, an ailette might identify a decorative shoulder feature of a general's uniform, while another might describe a small winglike projection in an illustration. Although unusual, ailette is useful when precision matters because it distinguishes a specific minor appendage or uniform detail from a full wing or a complete shoulder ornament. Its French origin, ailette means "little wing," making the word both transparent and memorable. It belongs to the same Latin family as words describing wings and winglike structures.
nounA small wing or winglike appendage; also, a narrow ornamental piece or braid worn on the shoulder of some military uniforms.
- A small wing or winglike appendage, especially in technical or heraldic description.
- A narrow ornamental piece or braid worn on the shoulder of a military uniform.
"A gold ailette decorated the shoulder of the officer's uniform."
"The officer's uniform featured a brightly embroidered ailette."
"The zoological illustration labels the small winglike structure as an ailette."
The regular plural is ailettes, although the word's rarity makes the plural uncommon.
"Red ailettes appeared on the shoulders of the ceremonial uniforms."
Ailette literally means "little wing," a fitting label for a tiny winglike detail or an officer's small shoulder ornament.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ailette come from?
French ailette is the diminutive of aile, meaning "wing," and ultimately comes from Latin ala, "wing." English borrowed the French form for specialized military and heraldic descriptions, while related Latin derivatives include alate and alula.
Related word forms
How ailette is actually used
The word is uncommon outside military, heraldic, and other technical descriptions. It is more specialized than the ordinary terms wing and shoulder decoration.
Easily confused with ailette
An epaulet is a shoulder ornament or strap, whereas an ailette more narrowly denotes a small winglike piece or a narrow decorative shoulder flap.