What are the plastic bits at the end of shoelaces called? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk
SEMANTIC ENIGMAS
What are the plastic bits at the end of shoelaces called?
THE WORD is "aglet". A chemist at Berkeley has recently made a molecular version for stopping the ends of certain long intertwined molecules from fraying.
Matthew Todd, University Chemical Laboratory, Cambridge.
THIS is a classic example of the family of names for things you didn't know had a name (and probably didn't care). Others are the indent at the bottom of a wine bottle (a kick or a punt) and the wire contraption on table lamps that keeps the shade off the bulb (a harp). Learn these and impress your friends!
Rob Shipway, London E17.
THE SECONDARY purpose of an aglet is when purchasing a dictionary: if it doesn't include the word, then don't buy it. Another good word for this test is ferrule, the tip on the bottom of an umbrella.
Robert Moye, London SE4.
While 'aglet' may be a correct term for the plastic bits on the ends of shoelaces, spare a thought for Dr. Wolfgang FlÃ¼gle, of the University of Heidleberg in Germany. It was he who originally discovered that small piece of sheep's intestine, suitably cleaned and shrunk, was a perfect device to prevent his own laces from unravelling. This idea caught on, and the device became known as FlÃ¼glebinder (plural) (lit. 'FlÃ¼gle's ties') but the unfortunate academic failed to patent the idea, which was later pinched by the chap who name them 'aglets'.
Michael Fehle, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA