swallow-tailed
Americanadjective
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having a deeply forked tail like that of a swallow, as various birds.
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having an end or part suggesting a swallow's tail.
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(of a flag) having a triangular indentation in the fly so as to create two tails.
adjective
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(of a bird) having a deeply forked tail
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having a part resembling a swallow's tail
Etymology
Origin of swallow-tailed
First recorded in 1690–1700
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“For that, we added lots of swallow-tailed ribbons for an extra pop of color … underneath all the tinsel which is Zooey’s absolute favorite!” he added.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025
If you’re lucky, you might catch a rare sighting of a swallow-tailed kite, zone-tailed hawk or gyrfalcon.
From Washington Post • Sep. 15, 2022
The white ibis, swallow-tailed kite and wood stork also get mentioned.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2021
The painting of a swallow-tailed kite, completed in early October in Upper Manhattan, includes 12 other species embedded in its plumage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2015
One pair was sunset orange, swallow-tailed, and scalloped in black.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
