Epaulette pronunciation: ĕp'-ǝ-lĕt, a French word meaning "little shoulders" (epaule, referring to "shoulder"), originally meant only one type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia or rank by military or other organizations. Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap, parallel to the shoulder seam, and a button near the collar. The placement of the epaulette, its color and the length and diameter of its bullion fringe are used to siginify the wearer's rank. Between the fringe and the shoulderpiece is often a metal piece in the form of a crescent. Although sometimes worn in the field, epaulettes are more common on dress or ceremonial uniforms. Epaulettes are also found on the trench coat, the safari jacket, and other garments. ... Military rank, or simply rank, is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations. ... A shoulder strap is a piece of fabric used to support clothing or other items from the shoulder of the wearer. ... World War I example For the Walt Disney Company film, see Trenchcoat (movie). ... A safari jacket is a garment originally designed for the purpose of going on safari; the word safari entered English from Swahili in 1890. ...

Before rank insignia were devised, the rank of an officer was determined by whether one epaulette was on the left shoulder, or the right shoulder, or both. Later a "counter-epaulette", with no fringe, was given to those who wore only one. Besides silver or gold for officers, epaulettes came in cloth for the enlisted men of various arms. Various cavalry specialties had metal epaulettes referred to as scales, which were rarely worn in the field. General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... It has been suggested that Gold bar be merged into this article or section. ...

Officers of the United States Army at the time of the Civil War wore gold for artillery and silver for infantry. This was in keeping with the practice of the French Army. In Europe, some light infantry wore cloth counter-epaulettes. "Flying artillery" wore "wings," like 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. US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a civil war between the United States of America, called the Union, and the Confederate States of America, a new country formed by eleven Southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the Union. ... For the thrash metal band, see Artillery (band) Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme, First World War. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... For the thrash metal band, see Artillery (band) Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ...

Epaulettes have mostly been replaced by insignia pins and sleeve patches to denote rank. These are often placed on a five-sided flap of cloth called a shoulder strap, which is sewn onto the shoulder seam and buttons onto the button which the epaulette used to. A shoulder strap is a piece of fabric used to support clothing or other items from the shoulder of the wearer. ...

An intermediate step in the navies of the world is the shoulderboard, which neither has a fringe nor extends beyond the shoulder seam. Various armies, such as the Russian Army, still have shoulder boards.

From the US Navy's shoulderboard, the US Army and Air force developed the shoulder mark, a cloth tube with one stripe far from the collar and embroidered or pinned rank insignia. This is often used on shirts worn in air-conditioned bases; the US Navy has followed suit.

German Army uniforms are known for a five-cord "figure-of-eight" decoration which fits atop the shoulder. This is called a shoulder knot, and though it was once on more US Army uniforms, remains only in the mess uniform. Three Canadian officers in shawl or rolled collar jacket and waistcoat style mess dress or mess kit. ...

British uniform shirt cuffs were once decorated with buttons and colored patches to indicate the rank of officers. This page describes uniform in the sense of clothing. ... A small button A button is a typically thin, small disc of hard substance, attached to a piece of cloth by stitches sewn through holes in its centre. ...

In Canada, epaulette or epaulet is used to describe the shoulder strap of a military or police shirt, jacket, or tunic, and 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, and usually bearing rank or other insignia.