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fillet

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A narrow band or ribbon worn around the head, often made of silk or leather, used to bind the hair or as a simple headband, appearing in classical and medieval poetry.

Detailed Definition
The fillet is one of the most basic head ornaments, a simple strip that can be either humble or luxurious depending on its material. In classical poetry, the fillet is associated with sacrifice and priesthood—priests wear fillets, and sacrificial animals are adorned with them. In medieval romance, a knight might wear a fillet in his lady's colors, and a queen might wear a jeweled fillet as a token of her rank. The fillet's function of holding back hair makes it a practical garment, but in poetry, it often signals a moment of ceremony or the preparation for a ritual. Its narrowness also makes it a delicate, almost fragile object, easily lost or broken, which poets use to suggest vulnerability or the thin line between order and disorder.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The fillet bound her hair like a ribbon of moonlight"; "He wore a fillet of white wool, signifying his priesthood"; "The fillet's gold thread caught the sun and flashed like a signal"; "She tied the fillet around her forehead and became a warrior's bride"; "The fillet, simple and unadorned, was the only ornament she permitted herself"; "In classical verse, the fillet is the garland of the sacrificial victim"
Additional Notes
The fillet is one of the most basic head ornaments, a simple strip that can be either humble or luxurious depending on its material. In classical poetry, the fillet is associated with sacrifice and priesthood—priests wear fillets, and sacrificial animals are adorned with them. In medieval romance, a knight might wear a fillet in his lady's colors, and a queen might wear a jeweled fillet as a token of her rank. The fillet's function of holding back hair makes it a practical garment, but in poetry, it often signals a moment of ceremony or the preparation for a ritual. Its narrowness also makes it a delicate, almost fragile object, easily lost or broken, which poets use to suggest vulnerability or the thin line between order and disorder. Related terms include headband, ribbon, and diadem. Students should note the fillet's classical roots and its ability to signify both ritual purity and romantic devotion.
Other Meanings of “fillet”
Also Known As
headband ribbon circlet brow band
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