- Aglet
An aglet or aiglet is a small plastic or metal sheath on the end of
shoelaces (or any type of lace, though shoelaces are the most commonly referenced), which keeps the twine from unraveling and makes 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". [Picken, Mary Brooks: "The Fashion Dictionary", Funk and Wagnalls, 1957. (1973 edition ISBN 0308100522)] 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 assilver . Before the invention ofbutton s, they were used on the ends ofribbon s 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 ". (Seeaiguillette (ornament) .) Purely decorative metal ornaments calledaiguillette are sometimes features of modern military dress uniforms.References
External links
* [http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletrepair.htm How to repair aglets]
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