What is the end of a shoelace called , anyway?
Called it’s an ‘aglet.’ Which, if you ask me (though nobody ever does), it seems like a pretty silly name. ‘Aglet’ comes from Old French, which took it from the Latin “acus” which means needle.
So an aglet is sort of like a needle for the end of your shoelace… But besides helping you on any future trivia , or crossword puzzles you may encounter in your life, aglets have other purposes: keeping the end of your laces from fraying, the laces are easier to hold, and they make lacing up shoes significantly easier.
However, do not confuse aglet with ‘flugelbinder,’ because this is a fake word. If you have heard of it, then it is most likely from “Cocktail,” a 1988 movie where the people are talking about inventors , who invent ordinary objects and make millions doing so.
And let’s say that on your favorite pair of shoelaces, your aglets either broken, partially broken, or missing. This can devastating! Can you replace them? You bet! There are several different options to try, which dependent on cost, tools available, and want for durability. Your first most basic options seem almost too simple . use some adhesive tape, use glue/nail polish, or using candle wax. These are cheap alternatives. but they probably won’t last , that long (glue and nail polish hold up better than candle wax and tape).
You can also use a match or lighter (make sure there is adult supervision! Unless you are over 18 and generally safe around fire, of course) on synthetic laces.burning the ends to make them more like an aglet. And you can always buy a metal aglet to add to the end of your laces. or a heat shrink tubing to make into an aglet.
Finally, you can always make little knots at the end of your laces. but this of course prevents re-lacing your shoes, so use this one with care. And the knots might make it (slightly) more difficult for you to tie your shoes.
