Languettes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Thin strips or flaps of material, often used in clothing or other textiles to create embellishments or structural features
2. Small overlapping pieces that can be part of a garment's design or serve functional purposes in holding fabric together
3. Decorative or functional extensions in fashion or craft, typically employed to enhance visual interest or support garment construction

Etymology: "Languettes" is the plural of "languette," which came into English from French and carries a small, tongue-shaped idea at its core. The French word "languette" is a diminutive of "langue," meaning "tongue," which descends from Latin "lingua." The diminutive ending "-ette" simply makes the base noun smaller, so a "languette" is literally a little tongue. That image of a flat, narrow tongue explains the word's use for things that lie flat and overlap. In garment design, the plural "languettes" refers to small pieces that layer over one another, and their function as connectors or holders for fabric follows from that shape. The metaphor is a simple one: each piece projects like a tongue from its edge.