eyelet
UK[ˈaɪlət]US[ˈaɪlət]
n
a small hole in a material, such as leather or cloth, that is reinforced with a metal ring and used for threading a lace or rope through.
n
a small, typically decorative, ring or hole in a piece of metal, leather, or fabric.
Morpheme Breakdown
eye
let
eye
hole
let
small
Etymology
the word "eyelet" is a native english formation, combining the old english word for "eye" with the diminutive suffix "-let." the logic is straightforward: a small eye. the original sense of "eye" in old english (ēage) extended metaphorically to describe any round opening or hole, much like the pupil of an eye. the addition of "-let" specifically denotes a small version of such an opening. this literal combination evolved into the modern technical term for a reinforced hole, perfectly capturing its function and appearance.
Analysis
Structure: eye (hole) + let (small)
"eye" (from old english 'ēage', meaning the organ of sight or something resembling it in shape, such as a hole). "let" (a diminutive suffix of old english origin, used to form nouns denoting something small).
Examples
she threaded the shoelace through the metal eyelet.
the sail was secured with a rope passed through an eyelet on the deck.
the decorative eyelets on the curtain allowed light to filter through.