accoutrement

Meanings

1. A soldier's equipment, other than weapons and uniform.
2. An article of clothing or equipment, in particular when used as an accessory.
3. An identifying yet superficial characteristic.
4. The act of accoutering; furnishing.

Etymology

Probably partly from Middle French accoustrement, acoustrement, acoutrement (French accoutrement), from accoustrer, from Old French acostrer (“arrange, sew up”), and partly from accoutre + -ment. First attested in the 1540s.