Epaulette
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2008-07-15T11:41:05Z
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[[Image:French Republican Guard Bastille Day 2007 n2.jpg|thumb|Horseman of the [[French Republican Guard]] with epaulettes]]
'''Epaulette''' ({{PronEng|ˈɛpǝlɛt}}[http://www.bartleby.com/61/wavs/21/E0172100.wav]) is a [[French language|French]] word meaning "little shoulder" (from ''épaule'', meaning "shoulder"). Epaulettes are a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as [[insignia]] or [[military rank|rank]] by the [[armed force|military]] and other organizations. <!--, but was originally devised and used to hold the cross belt (and back pouch) in place; to stop it from "riding up" on to the wearers kneck (neck). (I am dubious about this bit... I think this more properly refers to shoudler straps.--> Colloquially, the word has also come to refer to some types of [[shoulder strap]].
Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a [[passant]], a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam and the button near the collar, or by laces on the underside of the epaulette passing through holes in the shoulder of the coat. The placement of the epaulette, its color and the length and diameter of its bullion fringe are used to signify the wearer's rank. At the join of the fringe and the shoulderpiece is often a metal piece in the form of a crescent. Although originally worn in the field, epaulettes are more common today on dress or ceremonial uniforms. [[Shoulder strap]]s are also found on civilian clothing that derives from military uniforms such as the [[trench coat]], the [[safari jacket]] and other garments.
== History of the Epaulette ==
Epaulettes were used in the French army to indicate rank. Epaulettes may be derived from the shoulder [[pteruges]] of ancient [[Roman Army|Roman]] military costumes. The rank of an officer could be determined by whether an epaulette was worn on the left shoulder, the right shoulder or on both. Later a "counter-epaulette" (with no fringe) was worn on the opposite shoulder of those who wore only a single epaulette. Epaulettes were made in [[silver]] or [[gold]] for officers, and in cloth of various colors for the enlisted men of various arms. By the early eighteenth century, epaulettes became the distinguishing feature of an officer, leading to officers of military units without epaulettes to petition their government for the right to wear epaulettes, to ensure that they would be recognized as officers<ref>Wilkinson-Latham, R: "The Royal Navy 1790-1970", page 5. Osprey Publishing, 1977</ref>. Certain cavalry specialties wore flexible metal epaulettes referred to as shoulder scales, rarely worn on the field.
In [[Europe]], some [[light infantry]] wore cloth counter-epaulettes. "Flying artillery" wore "wings", similar to an epaulette but with only a bit of fringe on the outside, which matched the shoulder seam. Heavy [[artillery]] wore small balls representing [[ammunition]] on their shoulders.
Today, epaulettes have mostly been replaced by a five-sided flap of cloth called a [[shoulder strap]], which is sewn into the shoulder seam and the end buttoned like an epaulette.
An intermediate form in some services, such as the [[Russian Army]], is the [[shoulderboard]], which neither has a fringe nor extends beyond the shoulder seam.
From the shoulderboard was developed the [[slip-on|shoulder mark]], a flat cloth tube that is worn over the shoulder strap and carries embroidered or pinned-on rank insignia. The advantages of this are the ability to easily change the insignia as occasions warrant.
In literature, film and political satire, [[dictator|dictators]], particularly of unstable [[Third World]] nations, are often depicted in military dress with oversized gold epaulettes.
== Canada ==
[[Image:Messkit1.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Canadian officers in mess dress or mess kit.]]
In [[Canada]], ''epaulette'' or ''epaulet'' is often used (erroneously or colloquially) to describe the [[shoulder strap]] of a military or police shirt, jacket or tunic and is used informally as a synonym for ''[[slip-on]]'', a flat cloth sleeve (called in the US, a shoulder mark) worn ("slipped on") on the shoulder strap.
After Unification and prior to the issue of the [[Uniforms_of_the_Canadian_Forces#Distinct_Environmental_Uniform|Distinct Environmental Uniform]], musicians of the [[Band Branch (Canadian Forces)|Band Branch]] wore epaulettes of braided gold cord on the CF uniform.
Epaulettes are still worn on some Army [[Full dress|Full Dress]], [[Patrol Dress]], and [[Mess Dress]] uniforms. Epaulettes in the form of shoulder boards are worn with the officer's white Naval Service Dress.
== France ==
[[Image:First Battalion ESM Bastille Day 2007 n2.jpg|thumb|Cadets of the [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|ESM Saint-Cyr]] in full uniform.]]
The [[French Army]] infantry wore silver epaulettes, while mounted units wore gold epaulettes. To be visible, the rank insignia was of contrasting metal, hence the rank insignia today is gold for the infantry and silver for the cavalry.
Nowadays, only school (as [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|ESM Saint-Cyr]]) and guard (as [[Garde Républicaine]]) units wear regularly epaulets. NCOs wear only one epaulet on the left shoulder, and officers wear two epaulets.
== Germany ==
[[German Army]] uniforms are known for a four cord braided "figure-of-eight" decoration which acts as a shoulder board. This is called a [[shoulder knot]]. Although it was once seen on US Army uniforms, it remains only in the [[Mess dress|mess uniform]].
== United Kingdom ==
[[Image:Epaulette mp3h7527.jpg|thumb|[[Shoulder mark]] of a contemporary British OG (Olive Green) pullover with RAF [[Sergeant]] insignia. The shoulder strap is attached with [[velcro]].]]
Epaulettes first appeared on [[United Kingdom|British]] [[uniforms]] in the second half of the 18th century. The epaulette was officially incorporated into [[Royal Navy]] uniform regulations in [[1795]], although some officers wore them before this date. [[Flag Officers]] were to wear silver stars on their epaulettes to distinguish their ranks. [[Captains]] were to have plain epaulettes, the Junior Captains and [[Commanders]] having only one apiece to be worn on the right and left shoulders respectively.<ref>[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/search/lightbox.cfm/category/90266 Epaulettes at the National Maritime Museum website]</ref>
Before [[World War I]] the [[British Army]] stopped wearing epaulettes in the field, switching to rank insignia embroidered on the cuffs of the uniform jacket. This was found to make officers a target for snipers, so the insignia was moved to the shoulder straps, where it was less conspicuous.
<!--
[[United Kingdom|British]] [[uniform]] shirt cuffs were once decorated with [[button]]s and coloured patches to indicate the rank of officers.
(I have no idea if this is refering to cuffs in facing colors, or the WWI insignia described above.... -->
The current [[British_Army_Uniform#No.8:_Combat_Dress|combat uniform]] (DPM) has the epaulette insignia on a strap at the centre of the chest.
The epaulettes of military uniforms were sometimes made of [[chainmail]] in the past and those of some British cavalry regiments are still made in this fashion.
== United States ==
[[Image:CharlesGriffin.jpg|thumb|Maj. Gen. Charles Griffin wearing epaulettes during the [[American Civil War]].]]
Epaulettes were authorized for the [[United States Navy]] in the first official uniform regulations, 'Uniform of the Navy of the United States, 1797'. Captains wore an epaulette on each shoulder, lieutenants wore only one, on the right shoulder.<ref>Rankin, Col. Robert H.: "Uniforms of the Sea Services", 1962</ref>
Epaulettes were specified for all [[United States Army]] officers in 1832;
infantry officers wore silver epaulettes, while those of the artillery and other branches wore gold epaulettes, following the French manner. The rank insignia was of a contrasting metal, silver on gold and vice-versa.
In 1851 the epaulettes became universally gold. Both majors and second lieutenants had no specific insignia. A major would have been recognizable as he would have worn the more elaborate epaulette fringes of a senior field officer. The rank insignia was silver for senior officers and gold for the bars of captains and first lieutenants. The reason for the choice of silver eagles over gold ones is thought to be one of economy; there were more cavalry and artillery colonels than infantry so it was cheaper to replace the numerically fewer gold ones.
Shoulder straps were adopted to replace epaulettes for field duty in 1836.
== References ==
<references/>
== See also ==
* '''''[[Uniform_and_insignia_of_the_Boy_Scouts_of_America#Shoulder_loops|Epaulettes]]''''' in the uniform of the [[Boy Scouts of America]].
* [[spaulder]]
[[Category:Military life]]
[[Category:Military uniforms]]
[[Category:Scouting uniform]]
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