Austrian knot

Austrian knots soon appeared as part of the distinctive uniform of hussar regiments in the armies of other European nations but did not gain wider popularity until the last decades of the nineteenth century.

British officers of most regiments wore Austrian knots of a simplified pattern in gold braid on the cuffs of their full-dress tunics[4] until this order of uniform ceased to be generally worn after 1914.

Along with most other elaborate and conspicuous indicators of rank, Austrian knots fell into disuse during the First World War and were not revived in everyday wear.

French officers of North African regiments such as the zouaves and the Algerian tirailleurs continued to wear Austrian knots in gold braid on the sleeves of their colourful full-dress uniforms until 1939.

It is a feature of the blue mess-dress uniform adopted as optional wear for officers in 1937 and still worn for formal social or evening functions.