What does grommet mean?
A grommet is a small ring or eyelet fitted through fabric, sheet material, or another surface so that a cord, cable, or line can pass through without fraying or cutting the material. Such grommets are commonly made of metal or rubber and may be used in curtains, bags, tarpaulins, and equipment housings. In older nautical usage, a grommet can instead be a loop of rope, often forming part of a sail, through which a line is passed. The word is therefore most useful when precision matters: in general hardware contexts it names the protective eyelet, while in sailing terminology it may name the rope component itself. It is usually a technical noun rather than everyday vocabulary, appearing in nautical, textile, automotive, electrical, and manufacturing contexts. Although often associated today with small plastic or metal fittings, its history lies in maritime equipment. Knowing both senses helps explain why a modern grommet and a traditional rope grommet are described so differently in reference works.
A reinforced eyelet or ring through which a cord or line is passed, or a loop of rope used for a similar purpose in nautical rigging.
"The tent's grommets were reinforced with metal rings."
The rope-loop sense is characteristic of nautical usage, while the eyelet sense is common in general hardware and manufacturing contexts.
To furnish or fit something with a grommet or grommets.
"The manufacturer grommeted each corner of the cover before adding the eyelets."
This is a specialized verb, used chiefly in manufacturing, marine work, and crafts.
The standard plural of the noun; each individual eyelet or rope loop is a grommet.
"The technician replaced the damaged grommets around the panel."
A grommet began as a rope loop at sea and now survives as the tiny eyelet that keeps cords from slicing through fabric.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grommet come from?
The English word was borrowed from French grommet in the late sixteenth century, initially in maritime terminology, where it referred to a rope ring or loop through which a line was passed. The exact ultimate origin of the French form is uncertain. Modern English also uses the word for a small reinforced eyelet fitted through cloth, sheet material, and manufactured products.
Related word forms
How grommet is actually used
The term is chiefly technical and occurs in nautical, textile, electrical, automotive, and manufacturing contexts. In general hardware use, it specifically denotes a reinforced eyelet; in older nautical usage, it often denotes a rope loop rather than a manufactured eyelet.