Well I was once told it was the plastic "thingy" on the end of a shoelace....but my daughter just said that was an "aglet"........I don't know who is right!!! lol an aglet is the correct term for the plastic end on the end of shoelaces. a flugelbinder is a word made up for the same item in the film cocktail, but now refers to an invention that is used everyday that has potentially made the inventor millions.