Aglet

An aglet (/ˈæɡlət/ AG-lət)[1] or aiglet is a small sheath, often made of plastic or metal, attached at each end of a shoelace, a cord, or a drawstring.

Wealthy people in the Roman era would have their aglets made out of precious metals such as brass or silver.

According to Huffington Post editor James Cave, "The history of the aglet's evolution is a little knotty—many sources credit it as being popularized by an English inventor named Harvey Kennedy who is said to have earned $2.5 million off the modern shoelace in the 1790s.

"[5] Today, the clear plastic aglets on the end of shoelaces are put there by special machines.

Many companies prefer to add metal sheaths over plastic aglets for better durability.