agrafe

noun

variants or agraffe
: a hook-and-loop fastening
especially : an ornamental clasp used on armor or costumes

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French agrafe, going back to Middle French agraffe, probably noun derivative of agrafer "to seize with a grappling hook, attach with a clasp," from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + grafer, graffer "to clamp on," verbal derivative of grafe, graffe "hook," borrowed from Old High German khrapfo, going back to West Germanic *krappō — more at grape

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agrafe was circa 1660

Dictionary Entries Near agrafe

Cite this Entry

“Agrafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agrafe. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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