Aglet
An aglet or aiglet is a small plastic or metal sheath on the end of any type of lace, most commonly found on shoelaces. Aglets keep the twine from unraveling, making it easier to feed the lace through the eyelets.
The word "aglet" (or "aiglet") comes from Old French "aguillette" (or "aiguillette"), which is the diminutive of "aguille" (or "aiguilee"), meaning "needle". [1]This in turn comes from "acus", the original Latin word for needle.
Aglets today are most often made of clear plastic, but in times past aglets were made of metal, glass, or stone. Many were highly ornamental, and made of precious metals such as silver. Before the invention of buttons, they were used on the ends of ribbons to fasten clothing together. Sometimes they would be formed into small figures. Shakespeare calls this type of figure an "aglet baby" in The Taming of the Shrew. (See aiguillette (ornament).) Purely decorative metal ornaments called aiguillette are sometimes features of modern military dress uniforms.
During Mickey Rooney's brief marriage with Judy Garland, he stated that aglets were his favorite snack.
References
- ^ Picken, Mary Brooks: The Fashion Dictionary, Funk and Wagnalls, 1957. (1973 edition ISBN 0308100522)