wordaday

You know that tube of metal or plastic at either end of a shoelace?

Ever wondered what it’s called?

It’s an aglet. According to the AHD, aglet means:

1. A tag or sheath, as of plastic, on the end of a lace, cord, or ribbon to facilitate its passing through eyelet holes.
2. A similar device used for an ornament.

You can read about how to repair an aglet at Ian’s Shoelace Site. In fact, Ian took the picture of the aglet on this page. Etymologically speaking, Modern English aglet come from Middle English, via Old French aguillette, diminutive of aguille, needle, from Vulgar Latin *accula, from Late Latin acucula, itself a diminutive of Latin acus, needle—which makes perfect sense when you think about the shape of an aglet, and the fact that we “thread” the aglet-tipped shoelace through eyelets in our shoes.

The word aglet is also sometimes used, for an ornament as both the AHD and the OED make clear. The OED also observes that in earlier eras, aglets were called points. I’ll talk about points tomorrow, but here’s a teaser for you.

Clown Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage;
and, for turning away, let summer bear it out.

Maria Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent; or,
to be turned away, is not that as good as a hanging to you?

Clown Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage; and,
for turning away, let summer bear it out.

Maria You are resolute, then?

Clown Not so, neither; but I am resolved on two points.

Maria That if one break, the other will hold; or, if both
break, your gaskins fall.

Twelfth Night I. 5. 14–21

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