accouterment

[ uh-koo-ter-muhnt, -truh- ]

noun

1. a clothing accessory or an accessory piece of equipment: You will need sleeping bags and other accouterments for camping.

   These nautical cufflinks are the perfect accouterment to any boating enthusiast's dress shirt.

   You will need sleeping bags and other accouterments for camping.

2. a piece of equipment carried by a soldier, excluding weapons and clothing.
3. a characteristic feature, object, or sign associated with a particular role, situation, etc: Its members all have children, husbands, and the other accouterments of middle-class, American suburban living.

   I take the snob to be someone with an exaggerated respect for wealth and all the other accouterments of status.

   Its members all have children, husbands, and the other accouterments of middle-class, American suburban living.

Word History and Origins

Origin of accouterment¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French accou(s)trement; accouter, -ment

Example Sentences

It will eventually also sell pastries, jams, butter, honey, and other accouterments.

From Washington Blade

Get ready to unwind with your favorite bath accouterments at your fingertips.

From Popular-Science

No alluring jingle of belted accouterment goes with him, no gift of deadly humor adorns his equally deadly gun-play.

From Project Gutenberg

About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accouterment.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind him boots crunched and food pails clattered against some other part of the men's accouterment.

From Project Gutenberg

Any one chancing to observe the boys as they thus set out would surely have found his curiosity aroused by their accouterment.

From Project Gutenberg

This accouterment was formerly completed by a gun to defend the flock against wolves, and a stove for preparing meals.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessory
• accoutrement
• trappings