Rosettes instead of Kilt Pins?

[OC Richard]

I think we're splitting linguistic hairs.

People usually think of a "rosette" as being a cloth-covered button completely, continuously surrounded by a length of ribbon formed into a circle, the ribbon forming a ruffle around the central button.

The Black Watch thing isn't like that, but actually are shaped like bows, not circles. By "shaped like bows" I mean shaped like a bow tie.

The dictionary I happen to have says:
"Bow: a decorative knot, as of ribbon, with two or more loops."
(Each of the things on the Black Watch kilts possesses six loops. Rosettes possess none.)
"Rosette: an ornament made of ribbon gathered or tufted in the shape of a rose."
(This doesn't mention a central button, but the illustration which accompanies the listing clearly shows ribbon in a continuous circle surrounding a central button.)

The difference is more clear when the actual things are seen.

First, a Black Watch kilt with the bows the regiment evidently calls "rosettes":



Now here are the things which would, in normal English, be called rosettes, worn by the Pipe Major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers:



This distinction between a "rosette" and a "bow" can be clearly seen on the assemblages on the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders kilt panel: they consist of a rosette with a bow mounted on top.

In any case, for the sake of clarity I'll continue to use the word "rosette" for things which are shaped like rosettes and the word "bow" for things which are shaped like bows, regulations aside. (Military regulations often use words in odd ways.)

I know first-hand about the Black Watch bows-which-must-be-called-rosettes because I made a set of them years ago for a kilt I had. It was a Gordon kilt and I made a set in Gordon tartan. (Of course the Gordon Highlanders don't wear these.)