aglet

[ ag-lit ]

noun

1. a metal or plastic tag or sheath at the end of a lace used for tying, as of a shoelace.
2. (in the 16th and 17th centuries) an ornament at the end of a point or other ribbon used to secure a garment.
3. aiguillette ( def 1 ).

aglet

/ ˈæɡlɪt /

noun

1. a metal sheath or tag at the end of a shoelace, ribbon, etc
2. a variant spelling of aiguillette
3. any ornamental pendant

Word History and Origins

Origin of aglet¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French aiguillette, equivalent to aiguille needle ( aiguille ) + -ette -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of aglet¹

C15: from Old French aiguillette a small needle

Example Sentences

The ends of your shoelace are coated with a hard plastic shell called an aglet, which protects the lace from unraveling.

From Science Daily

The aglet is the plastic or crimped-metal cap at each end of the lace.

From Washington Post

Finish off your sneaker with your choice of laces, varnish, and even the aglets, the metal pieces at the end of the laces.

From Salon

Until then, and even through the early years of the 21st century, most hair ties were usually fastened together with metal aglets; those who can remember using them are wincing right now.

From Washington Post

Some of the gaps were on telomeres, the caps at the ends of chromosomes that have often been compared to the aglets that protect the ends of shoelaces.

From Washington Post