French word

ferret

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛʁɛ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounaglet

Example

Le ferret du lacet est tombé.

The aglet on the shoelace fell off.

Illustration for ferret (aglet)

More examples

J'ai perdu le ferret d'une de mes chaussures.

I lost the aglet on one of my shoes.

Core concept

A tiny cap on a lace tip, keeping the fibers together while the tip slips through an eyelet.

Similar words

bout: The very end or tip of something.
pointe: The pointed, tapered end of something.
extrémité: The outermost end of an object or part.

Definition in French

Accessoire de petite taille fixé sur la pointe d'un lacet ou d'un cordon, qui protège l'extrémité et facilite son insertion dans les œillets.

Word origin

French ferret comes from fer, meaning iron, with the diminutive suffix -et, first referring to a small iron end fitting before extending to other materials.

Usage tips

  • Ferret is masculine, so the usual phrase is un ferret de lacet; embout de lacet is a useful practical alternative for naming this fitting.

Word lists with this word