Ac′co‐lade″ (ăk′kō̍‐lād″ or –lȧd″; 277), n. [F. accolade, It. accolata, fr. accollare to embrace; L. ad + collum neck.] 1. A ceremony formerly used in conferring knighthood, consisting of an embrace, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat blade of a sword.
2. (Mus.) A brace used to join two or more staves.