eyelet

American  

[ahy-lit] / ˈaɪ lɪt /

noun

1. a small hole, usually round and finished along the edge, as in cloth or leather for the passage of a lace or cord or as in embroidery for ornamental effect.

2. a lightweight fabric pierced by small holes finished with stitching and often laid out in flowerlike designs.

3. a metal ring for lining a small hole; grommet.

4. an eyehole in a wall, mask, etc.

5. Also oylet. (in medieval architecture) a small aperture in a wall used as a window or loophole.

6. a small eye.

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verb (used with object)

eyeleted, eyeletted, eyeleting, eyeletting

1. to make an eyelet in.

2. to insert metal eyelets in.

eyelet British  

/ ˈaɪlɪt /

noun

1. a small hole for a lace or cord to be passed through or for a hook to be inserted into

2. a small metal ring or tube with flared ends bent back, reinforcing an eyehole in fabric

3. a chink or small opening, such as a peephole in a wall

4. embroidery

   1. a small hole with finely stitched edges, forming part of an ornamental pattern

   2. Also called: eyelet embroidery.  a piece of embroidery decorated with such work

5. fabric decorated with such work produced by machine

6. a small eye or eyelike marking

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verb

1. (tr) to supply with an eyelet or eyelets

Etymology

Origin of eyelet

1350–1400; Middle English oillet < Old French oillet, equivalent to oill eye (< Latin oculus; see ocular) + -et -et; influenced by eye

Explanation

An eyelet is a hole that's meant for threading a cord or lace through. When you lace up your sneakers, you pass the shoelace through eyelets in your shoes. Many eyelets have metal rings that make it easy to put strings or cords through them, while others are simply holes punched in cloth or leather. Tarps and tents often have eyelets, as do sails on sailboats. Tiny hooks, such as the ones on dresses and undergarments, are also sometimes called eyelets. The word comes from the Old French oeillet, the diminutive of oeil, "eye," or literally "little eye." The Latin root is oculus, "eye."

Example Sentences

It is eyelet blouses and soft cardigans and hair ribbons and too much blush.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2022

The costume design serves to connect the family in gendered pairings, but also situates Tinja as different from her peers, clad in white eyelet dresses while the other girls wear jeans.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2022

“You look like a bride,” she tells Ruthie in wonderment, wrapping her in eyelet sheets after an operation.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2022

Kathleen was wearing her favorite white eyelet sundress, and she saw him at the bottom of the stairs.

From Washington Post • May 23, 2019

It was plain pine, like Chucha wanted it, but inside, Mami had it lined in purple cushiony fabric, which was Chucha's favorite color, and bordered with white eyelet.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

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