Aiguillettes (also spelled: aguillette, aiglet, or aglets) are needle-like dress ornaments intended to secure a cord or ribbon to a dress. During the first half of the 15th century, these aiguillettes became dress ornaments in their own right, being enameled, gem-set and made of gold and usually sewn onto the dress in pairs. The name comes from the French word for needle: aiguille.