Aglet

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A picture of aglets

Aglets is also a paradigm for building Java-based mobile agents

[edit] History and Etymology

An aglet or aiglet is the little plastic or metal cladding on the end of shoelaces (or any type of lace, though shoelaces are the most commonly referenced) that keeps the twine from unraveling. The word "aglet" (or "aiglet") comes from Old French "aguillette" (or "aiguillette"), which is the diminutive of "aguille" (or "aiguilee"), meaning "needle". This in turn comes from “acus”, the original Latin word for needle. In times past, aglets were usually made of metal, glass, or stone. Many were highly ornamental, and made of precious metals such as silver. Before the invention of buttons, they were used on the ends of ribbons to fasten clothing together. Sometimes they would be formed into small figures. Shakespeare calls this type of figure an "aglet baby" in The Taming of the Shrew. Purely decorative metal ornaments called aiguillette are sometimes features of modern military dress uniforms.

[edit] Aglets in Pop Culture

In modern times an aglet is frequently used as an example of a common object whose name is relatively unknown. Perhaps due to this, they are occasionally referenced in popular culture. Known examples are as follows:

According to the paranoid superhero The Question in Justice League Unlimited, their true purpose is sinister.

According to characters from Achewood, aglets are a key ingredient in a drug called "Fool's Meth."

The aglet is also mentioned in the 1988 movie Cocktail, where Tom Cruise's character calls it a "flugelbinder".

In the movie Repossessed, a boy asks his mother why their last name is Aglet, to which she responds that in olden times, men’s names were derived from their occupations. After this the boy proceeds to ask, "then what did John Hancock do?"

In an episode of the animated series Pinky and the Brain, Pinky remarks “Did you know that the little plastic thingies on the end of your shoelaces are called aglets? Huh. All this time I thought they were called little plastic things on the end of your shoelaces.” Brain, having recently failed yet another one of his global domination plots, responds to the comment by uttering the word “AAAAAAGLETS!” in a prolonged scream of frustration.

In The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, aglets help distinguish identify fake rat tails (made of bootlaces).

In an episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, after a stint of not spending money, London asks if she can just buy one of the little plastic things at the end of shoe laces and Maddie responds, "You mean an Aglet?"