lanyard
or lan·iard
[lan-yerd]
- Nautical. a short rope or wire rove through deadeyes to hold and tauten standing rigging.
- any of various small cords or ropes for securing or suspending something, as a whistle about the neck or a knife from one's belt.
- a cord with a small hook at one end, used in firing certain kinds of cannon.
- a colored, single-strand cord worn around the left shoulder by a member of a military unit awarded a foreign decoration.
- a white cord worn around the right shoulder, as by a military police officer, and secured to the butt of a pistol.
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Origin of lanyard
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lanyard
Contemporary Examples
An identification tag dangling from a lanyard around his neck was tucked discreetly into a breast pocket.
Historical Examples
He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
The Nigger Of The "Narcissus"Joseph Conrad
Made of brass, gun metal finish, ring at end to attach to lanyard.
Boy Scouts HandbookBoy Scouts of America
The other end of the slider was twisted into a loop for hooking to the gunner's lanyard.
Artillery Through the AgesAlbert Manucy
No. 3, the man with the tube-pouch, got out his lanyard and hooked it to a primer.
Artillery Through the AgesAlbert Manucy
Now slip the bight of the lanyard over your neck, and follow me.
The Voyage of the AuroraHarry Collingwood
lanyard
laniard
- a cord worn around the neck, shoulder, etc, to hold something such as a whistle or knife
- a similar but merely decorative cord worn as part of a military uniform
- a cord with an attached hook used in firing certain types of cannon
- nautical a line rove through deadeyes for extending or tightening standing rigging
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Word Origin
C15 lanyer, from French lanière, from lasne strap, probably of Germanic origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for lanyard
n.
also laniard, alternative spelling (influenced by nautical yard (2) "long beam used to support a sail") of Middle English lainer, "thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing" (late 14c.), from Old French laniere "thong, lash," from lasniere, from lasne "strap, thong," apparently altered (by metathesis and influence of Old French las "lace") from nasliere, from Frankish *nastila or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *nastila- (cf. Old High German, Old Saxon nestila "lace, strap, band," German nestel "string, lace, strap"), from PIE root *ned- "to knot."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper