Latchet

Forms: 4–6 lachet, 4–5 lacchet, 5 lachett, 6 latchett, 6– latchet. [ad. OF. lachet, dial. var. of lacet, dim. of laz, las, LACE sb.]

  † 1.  A loop; a narrow strip of anything, a thong. Obs. exc. as in c.

c. 1350.  Ipomadon, 4458 (Kölbing). He gaff hym suche a spetuous falle, In sunder brast the lachettes all, That shuld his helme socoure.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 591. His harnays watz ryche, Þe lest lachet ou[þ]er loupe lemed of golde.

14[?].  Siege Jerusalem, 42/748. A grete girdel of gold … Layþ vmbe his lendis, with lacchetes ynow.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 338/1. Layners or lachettes of theyre skynne were cutte oute of theyr back.

1660.  Hexham, Dutch Dict., Een Klinck-snoer, a Latchet, Thong, or Cord that Rings the bell in a house.

1676.  Hobbes, Iliad (1677), 45. And Paris then was mightily distrest, Choakt by the latchet underneath his chin.

1709.  Blair, in Phil. Trans., XXVII. 145. There were two Latchets, or Foldings of Wire plac’d in the inner side.

  † b.  Naut. = LASKET. Obs.

1497.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 321. iiij Smale lynes for lachetes & Robyns to the seid Ship.

1611.  Cotgr., Les nervins des bonnettes, the latchets wherewith bonnets be fastened to a sayle.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 24. Latchets are small lines sowed in the Bonnets and Drablers like loops to lash … the Bonnet to the course, or the course to the Drabler.

  c.  A thong used to fasten a shoe; a (shoe-)lace. Now only dial. exc. in Biblical allusions.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 284/1. Lachet of a schoo, tenea.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 166 b/1. They of the towne within had so grete defaulte that they ete theyr shoys and lachettis.

1526.  Tindale, Mark i. 7. Whos shue latchett I am not worthy to stoupe doune and vnlose.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. v. 27. There shal not one of them put of the gyrdle from his loynes, ner lowse the lachet of his shue.

1555.  Eden, Decades, 298. Patentes of woodde whiche they make faste to theyr feete with latchettes.

1688.  Capt. J. S., Art of War, 16. Keeping … the but-end near the Latchet of your shoe.

1785.  Boswell, Tour to Hebrides, 11 Aug. an. 1773. Dr. Adam Smith … told us he was glad to know that Milton wore latchets in his shoes instead of buckles.

1827.  Scott, Two Drovers, ii. I would not kiss any man’s dirty latchets for leave to bake in his oven.

1839.  Longf., Hyperion, IV. v. Day, like a weary pilgrim, had reached the western gate of heaven, and Evening stooped down to unloose the latchets of his sandal-shoon.

1859.  J. Brown, Rab & F., 27. He … put them [shoes] on, breaking one of the leather latchets.

  † d.  Phrases. To go above or beyond one’s latchet: to meddle with what does not concern one. (Cf. LAST sb.¹ 2 c.) A lie with a latchet: a great lie.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 475. And yet in that goe not aboue thy latchet.

1603.  H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 61. The shomaker must not goe beyond his latchet.

1610.  A. Cooke, Pope Joane, 20. He writes, that, in as much as she was a Germaine, no Germaine could euer since be chosen Pope. Which is a lie with a latchet.

1612.  Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 263. I to my Latchet will return, and rest me in a mean.

1647.  Ward, Simp. Cobler, 49. You will say I am now beyond my latchet; but you would not say so, if you knew how high my latchet will stretch, when I heare a lye with a latchet, that reaches up to his throat that first forged it.

1694.  Motteux, Rabelais, V. xxx. 152. That’s a Lye with a Latchet: Tho ’twere Ælian that Long-Bow-man that told you so, never believe him.

  2.  A catch or fastening for a shutter-bar.[? Another word, f. LATCH sb.¹ + -ET.]

1842–59.  Gwilt, Archit., II. iii. § 2263. 593. Door springs … door chains … bars with latchets, shelf brackets [etc.].

  † 3.  Comb.: latchet-line, cord for latchets.

1468.  in Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 347. Paid for ij. pertz lachet lyne and halff … xijd. ob.