Eyelet vs islet

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Grammarist

Eyelet and islet are two words that are pronounced in the same way but have different spellings as well as different meanings. These types of words are called homophones. We will look at the meanings of the words eyelet and islet, where these words come from and some examples of their use in sentences.

An eyelet is a hole that is punched in leather, plastic or fabric so that string or rope may be laced through it. The metal ring that reinforces such a hole is also called an eyelet. Eyelet is also a type of embroidery which is stitched in a decorative manner around a hole in fabric. Fabric that is machine made with this type of decorative embroidery is also called eyelet. Eyelet may be used as a noun, or more rarely, as a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are eyelets, eyeleted, eyeleting. The word eyelet is derived from the Middle French word oeillet, which means little eye.

An islet is a very small island. In anatomy, an islet is an area of tissue that is structurally different than the tissue that surrounds it. The plural form of islet is islets. The word islet is derived from the Middle French word islette, which means little island.

Examples

A particularly strong look was a women’s short gray wool dress with an eyelet belt layered on a navy rayon shirtdress, paired with patent cobalt knee-high boots. (The Washington Square News)

There were also pretty little eyelet capelets styled with collegiate fisherman’s knits. (Vogue Magazine)

The West Java provincial administration has prepared a location for a reclamation project to create a new islet for the Patimban seaport in Subang, an official has said. (The Jakarta Post)