aglet (n.)

also aiglet, "metal tag of a lace," meant to make it easier to thread through the eyelet-holes, but later often ornamental, mid-15c., from Old French aiguillette, diminutive of aiguille "needle," from Late Latin acucula, an extended form (via diminutive suffix, but not necessarily implying smallness) of Latin acus "a needle," from PIE root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce." Compare Italian agucchia, Portuguese agulha, Spanish aguja "needle."