accolade Look up accolade at Dictionary.com
1620s, from Fr. (16c.), from Prov. acolada, ult. from noun use of a fem. pp. from V.L. *accollare "to embrace around the neck," from L. ad- "to" + collum "neck" (see collar). The original sense is of an embrace about the neck or the tapping of a sword on the shoulders to confer knighthood. Extended meaning "praise, award" is from 1852. Also see -ade.