tabard

/ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/

//ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d// noun

"tabard" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tabard” is uncommon English (frequency #86,825 among 27,828 “T” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#86,825
frequency rank, English
27,828
“T” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A silk banner attached to a bugle or trumpet.

Key facts for tabard
PropertyValue
Headwordtabard
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/
Letters6
Frequency rank#86,825
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tabard” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). tabard lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

tabard is uncommon English at frequency #86,825 among 27,828 “T” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for tabard in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French tabart (“simple sleeveless overtunic; heavy overmantel”), of unknown origin. The correct English form is tabard, spelled T-A-B-A-R-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A silk banner attached to a bugle or trumpet.
  2. 2
    A sleeveless jerkin or loose overgarment.
  3. 3
    A sleeveless garment made of coarse cloth formerly worn outdoors by the common people.
  4. 4
    A cape or tunic worn by a knight, emblazoned with the coat of arms of his king or queen on the front.
  5. 5
    A similar garment officially worn by a herald and emblazoned with his sovereign's coat of arms.

Etymology

From Old French tabart (“simple sleeveless overtunic; heavy overmantel”), of unknown origin.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "tabard"?
"tabard" is spelled T-A-B-A-R-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/.
What does "tabard" mean?
As a noun, "tabard" means: A silk banner attached to a bugle or trumpet.
How do you pronounce "tabard"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tabard" is /ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "tabard"?
From Old French tabart (“simple sleeveless overtunic; heavy overmantel”), of unknown origin. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “tabard”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A-B-A-R-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtæbɑː(ɹ)d/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list