grommet
UK[ˈɡrɒmɪt]US[ˈɡrɑːmɪt]
n
A small, typically metal or plastic ring used to reinforce or protect a hole in material such as cloth, leather, or sheet metal.
n
A tube surgically implanted in the eardrum to drain fluid from the middle ear.
Etymology
The word 'grommet' entered English in the early 17th century from the French word 'gourmette', meaning a 'chain or ring on a horse's bit'. The French term likely derived from Old French 'gourmer' (to curb, bridle), but the precise trail beyond that is obscure. In English, its meaning shifted from a specific item of horse tack to the general nautical term for a ring of rope used to secure sails or protect holes, a sense which reflects its function of reinforcement and protection. This core idea of a reinforcing ring was later extended to the modern industrial and medical applications, such as the plastic or metal eyelets in fabrics and the drainage tubes used in ears.
Analysis
This word is considered unsegmentable in modern English. It is a loanword whose spelling and form were adopted as a whole unit.
Examples
The tarp was secured with ropes fed through brass grommets along its edges.
After his persistent ear infections, the doctor recommended inserting a grommet.
You'll need to install a rubber grommet where the cable passes through the metal panel to prevent fraying.