latchet

American  

[lach-it] / ˈlætʃ ɪt /

noun

Archaic.

1. a strap or lace used to fasten a shoe.

---

latchet British  

/ ˈlætʃɪt /

noun

1. archaic a shoe fastening, such as a thong or lace

---

Etymology

Origin of latchet

1300–50; Middle English lachet < Middle French, dialectal variant of lacet. See lace, -et

Example Sentences

And perhaps, if the deep truth of that symbolism strikes home, he will doff his hat in salutation to a man the latchet of whose shoes he is unworthy to unloose.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then when in the grey and growing light I went down and again opened the door, lo! there with his nose against the latchet hasp was Gay Garland, my father's war-horse.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

A poor weakling, who had never been worthy to unloose the latchet of her shoe!

From Countess Erika's Apprenticeship by Schubin, Ossip

Under these circumstances, they say that he was censured by a shoemaker for having represented the shoes with one latchet too few.

From Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by Bartlett, John

Toward her Lord she drew; She knelt by Him unchid; The latchet of His shoe Her trembling hands undid.

From A Celtic Psaltery by Graves, Alfred Perceval