lanyard
UK /ˈlæn.jəd/ · US /ˈlæn.jɚd/ noun
Forms lanyards laniard
- noun (nautical) A short rope used for fastening rigging, as a handle, etc.
- noun (by extension) A cord worn around the neck, shoulder, or wrist which is attached to a small object to be carried such as an identity card or security pass, key, knife, or whistle.
- noun A craft activity done by intricately braiding thin colored plastic lines to make patterns, or the product of such a craft.
- noun (by extension, military) A cord with a hook which is secured to an artillery piece, and pulled to fire the weapon.
- noun (UK, politics, derogatory) A civil servant or mid-level bureaucrat, viewed as officious and overly concerned with social justice.
Synonyms
Etymology
From late Middle English lainer, lainere, lanyer (“strap or thong used to fasten armour”) (with the ending modified in the 17th century under the influence of yard), from Old French laniere, lasniere (“thong, lash”) (see modern French lanière (“lanyard, strap”)).
The French word is ultimately from Germanic, cognate with Old High German nestila (“band, headband; strap”) (modern German Nestel (“lace; strap; string”)), Old Norse nesta (“brace; fastener, strap”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A short piece of rope or line for fastening something in ships; as, the lanyards of the gun ports, of the buoy, and the like; esp., pieces passing through the dead-eyes, and used to extend shrouds, stays, etc.
- noun A strong cord, about twelve feet long, with an iron hook at one end a handle at the other, used in firing cannon with a friction tube.
Etymology [F.lanière thong, strap, OF. lasniere, fr. lasne strap, thong, L. lacinia lappet. flap, edge of a garment. Cf. Lanier.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lanyard”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details