Word of the Day -- Aglet

An aglet (or aiglet) is a small plastic or metal sheath typically used on each end of a shoelace, cord, or drawstring. An aglet keeps the fibers of the lace or cord from unraveling; its firmness and narrow profile make it easier to hold and easier to feed through the eyelets, lugs, or other lacing guides.

The word aglet (or aiglet) comes from Old French aguillette (or aiguillette), which is the diminutive of aguille (or aiguille), meaning needle.  This in turn comes from acus, Latin for needle. An aglet is like a small needle at the end of a cord.

This is a great trivia question, and one that stumps a lot of people.  So the next time you are at a dinner party, point to someone's shoes and say: "Nice aglets!"