grommet

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: grom=met

CIDE DICTIONARY

grommet, n. [F. gourmette curb, curb chain, fr. gourmer to curb, thump, beat; cf. Armor. gromm a curb, gromma to curb.].

•  A ring formed by twisting on itself a single strand of an unlaid rope; also, a metallic eyelet in or for a sail or a mailbag. Sometimes written grummet.  [1913 Webster]
•  A ring of rope used as a wad to hold a cannon ball in place.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

grommet, n. (also grummet)
1 a metal, plastic, or rubber eyelet placed in a hole to protect or insulate a rope or cable etc. passed through it.
2 a tube passed through the eardrum in surgery to make a communication with the middle ear.

Etymology

obs. F grommette f. gourmer to curb, of unkn. orig.

THESAURUS

grommet

air hole, annulet, armhole, blowhole, bullet-hole, bunghole, circlet, cringle, deadeye, eye, eyelet, gasket, guide, keyhole, knothole, loop, loophole, manhole, mousehole, peephole, pigeonhole, pinhole, placket, placket hole, porthole, punch-hole, ringlet, roundlet, spiracle, tap, vent, venthole