aglet

noun

ag·​let ˈa-glət 

1

: the plain or ornamental tag covering the ends of a lace or point

2

: any of various ornamental studs, cords, or pins worn on clothing

Examples of aglet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The aglet goes through the eyelet. —John Kelly, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2023

The silver mic cord lace aglets (MCing). —Sean Malcolm, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2023

In the 1980s, researchers advanced the idea that this might play out through the erosion of protective telomeres—a sort of aglet at the end of chromosomes—which shorten when cells divide. —WIRED, 30 Jan. 2023

The benefit of knowing critical chores in a household seems heftier than knowing the technical term for the piece of plastic on the end of a shoelace — an aglet. —Lily Jackson | [e-mail], al, 25 Apr. 2020

Customers may choose from themed packs with embroidered patches and laces, and a variety of grommets, aglets, lace bolts, as well as other do-it-yourself options using stencils. —Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle, 8 Dec. 2017

Telomeres are the tips of chromosomes that protect DNA while it's being copied -- like the aglet at the end of a shoelace that prevents it from fraying. —Michael Nedelman and Susan Scutti, CNN, 2 July 2017

In addition to the leather tonal Swoosh, the shoes also have red lace aglets and Nike tags on the tongues. —Jake Woolf, GQ, 19 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English agglot, aglet, borrowed from Middle French aguillette, diminutive of aguille "needle, pin," going back to Old French, going back to Gallo-Latin acūcula, alteration (with ū from Latin acūtus "pointed") of Late Latin acucula "ornamental pin, pine needle," diminutive of Latin acus "needle, pin" — more at acute

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1