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lanyard or laniard (LAN-yerd) - n., (Naut.) a short rope or gasket used for fastening something or securing rigging, esp. one of the pieces passing through deadeyes to extend shrouds or stays; any of various cords for securing or suspending something, as a whistle about the neck or a knife from the belt; a cord worn as a symbol of a military citation; cord with a hook at one end used to fire artillery.
The second is the one I meet most often in my life, from wearing IDs at work and at conferences. Laniard is the older spelling, the -yard variant having arisen when the nautical uses started in the late 15th century, by influence of yard, meaning a spar supporting a sail. Before that it was Middle English lainere, strap/thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing, from Old French laniere, from lasne, alteration (influenced by las, string) of nasle/nasliere, lace (as in a fastener), of Germanic origin, possibly Frankish (cognates include Old Saxon nestila, lace/strap, and German Nestel, string/lace), from PIE root *ned-, to knot.
---L.
The second is the one I meet most often in my life, from wearing IDs at work and at conferences. Laniard is the older spelling, the -yard variant having arisen when the nautical uses started in the late 15th century, by influence of yard, meaning a spar supporting a sail. Before that it was Middle English lainere, strap/thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing, from Old French laniere, from lasne, alteration (influenced by las, string) of nasle/nasliere, lace (as in a fastener), of Germanic origin, possibly Frankish (cognates include Old Saxon nestila, lace/strap, and German Nestel, string/lace), from PIE root *ned-, to knot.
---L.
