Webster 1913 has a definition of aglet but it's a little hard to understand, and unsurprisingly, a little out of date.

Quite simply, aglets are the little plastic things on the ends of your shoelaces (and you thought it was going to be something dirty...) which are very useful for initially lacing up your shoes. I had a pair of 12 hole boots, and it took about half an hour as I had old laces without them.

Duct tape makes quite a good substitute, scotch tape an average one - it'll get you through one lacing, but I suppose that's all you really need.

'Aglet' is also a useful tool in checking whether you have a good dictionary; see if it's in there.
Well, having tried various methods to use shoelaces lacking in them, i can report that the following methods do not work:

In conclusion: shoelaces cost 50p. Buy some new ones.

Ag"let (#), Aig"let (#), n. [F. aiguillette point, tagged point, dim. of aiguilee needle, fr. LL. acucula for acicula, dim. of L. acus needle, pin: cf. OF. agleter to hook on. See Acute, and cf. Aiguillette.]

1.

A tag of a lace or of the points, braids, or cords formerly used in dress. They were sometimes formed into small images. Hence, "aglet baby" (Shak.), an aglet image.

2. Haberdashery

A round white staylace.

Beck.

 

© Webster 1913.

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