Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An ornamental cord worn on the shoulder of a military uniform.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Same as aglet, 1.
  • noun In cookery, a name given to a number of hors d'æuvre, or side-dishes, from their being served on small ornamental skewers or needles (aiguilles).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A point or tag at the end of a fringe or lace; an aglet.
  • noun One of the ornamental tags, cords, or loops on some military and naval uniforms.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of aiglet. (A metal tip, on a ribbon or cord that facilitated lacing two parts of a garment together.)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French; see aglet.]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word aiguillette.

Examples

  • Cadets served in the ranks and wore the same uniform as the men; they were distinguished only by an aiguillette of blue and white silk with brass tips.

    Archive 2008-06-22 de Brantigny........................ 2008

  • Cadets served in the ranks and wore the same uniform as the men; they were distinguished only by an aiguillette of blue and white silk with brass tips.

    la charge de la compagnie Franche de la Marine du musée Stewart au fort de l'île Ste-Hélène de Brantigny........................ 2008

  • Everything in sight was scree tumble, sloped gravel, blinding patches and streaks of snow, slick shining trickles of ice down gray- and brown-striped, crooked-layered limestone and mica schist, and above it all, the inward-leaning aiguillette peaks—barren stone needles like the newest, sharpest mountains on some moon.

    INTELLIVORE DIANE DUANE 2000

  • His bow to me must have been calculated on a slide rule; it suggested that I was about to be Supreme Minister but was not quite there yet, that I was his senior but nevertheless a civilian-then subtract five degrees for the fact that he wore the Emperor's aiguillette on his right shoulder.

    Double Star Heinlein, Robert A. 1956

  • He wore a white duck uniform adorned with gilt shoulder straps, an aiguillette, and a bar of service ribbons brilliantly plaided and striped.

    Sacrifice Stephen French Whitman

  • Braxton, who succeeded as post commander, knew that in European armies and in the old Mexican War days the aiguillette was ordinarily the distinctive badge of general officers or those empowered to give orders in their name.

    Waring's Peril Charles King 1888

  • Underneath them, spread over the square back of the chair, a dark-blue, single-breasted frock-coat, hanging nearly to the floor, its shoulders decked with huge epaulettes, to the right one of which were attached the braid and loops of a heavy gilt aiguillette whose glistening pendants were hung temporarily on the upper button.

    Waring's Peril Charles King 1888

  • Unluckily for his peace of mind, the young subaltern dressed at his father's house, and, not being used to the splendid paraphernalia of the Blues 'uniform, he omitted to put on his aiguillette.

    Collections and Recollections George William Erskine Russell 1886

  • When the hapless youth who lacked the aiguillette approached the presence, he heard a very high voice exclaim, "Who is this d-- d fellow?"

    Collections and Recollections George William Erskine Russell 1886

  • Happily, the horsemen had caught the glimpse of some bright ornament, clasp, or aiguillette, on Kate's dress.

    Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers — Volume 1 Thomas De Quincey 1822

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Hey Reesetee... It has a name??

    May 20, 2008

  • Odd--thought I'd already added it. Thanks, c_b.

    Here's a definition, too: an ornamental tagged cord or braid on the shoulder of a uniform; aglet.

    May 20, 2008

  • See also conversation/usages on aiguillettes.

    December 1, 2008

  • Attachments to clothes in most cases

    Will stab you in sensitive places,

    However a tag well met

    Is the wee aigulette

    That stiffens the end of your laces.

    July 26, 2018

  • See also aiglet and aglet.

    July 26, 2018