What is a lanyard for on a pocket knife?

Wowbagger said:
Well I don't use them but as far as the hole and why one would want one there :

  • On the water or standing in a stream it is nice to have a cord tied to the knife so if you drop it it doesn't go too far / can keep from loosing it (I suppose that goes for operating in the dark as well; spelunking anyone ?).
  • Working high; safer if you have a leash on so you don't drop your knife on a coworker . . . am I right ? And who wants to go down three floors to look for a probably damaged knife ? One of my customers dropped his Kershaw . . . gosh I swear he said 1,500 feet but lets say 150 feet. I said where were you working that you were that high . . . even wind generators aren't that high are they ? He said microwave tower in the mountains. Oh and the knife looked great and was usable; looked like a Benchmade had a tool bit driver built in . . . I don't know Kershaws.
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Kershaw select fire.
Had one and gave it away as the ergonomics were horrible ( mine really wasn't a very good knife either ) only bought it because the bit driver was a cool idea.
 
marcinek said:
If a lot of people use an incorrect term, that doesnt make it right. A lanyard goes around the neck, wrist, or shoulder. If your paracord skull bead doodad cannot do that, then its not a lanyard.
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Technically a fob isn't a lanyard according to the dictionary, but Everyone calls them lanyards now, so maybe Miriam Webster just needs to keep up with the times 😉
Definitions of words do get changed when the use of them is just about universally changed.
 
I usually put a lanyard/fob on knives that are exact duplicates of others, so two of the same knife arent in the rotation.
 
marcinek said:
Well, let us know when the OED changes their definition. Until then, its incorrect.
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noun

1 A rope used to secure or raise and lower something such as the shrouds and sails of a sailing ship or a flag on a flagpole.

1.1 A cord passed round the neck, shoulder, or wrist for holding a knife, whistle, or similar object.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lanyard


Its etymology from the OE etymology dictionary:

lanyard (n.) also laniard, "small rope or cord used aboard ships," alternative spelling (influenced by nautical yard (2) "long beam used to support a sail") of Middle English lainer, "thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing" (late 14c.), from Old French laniere "thong, lash, strap of leather," from lasniere (12c., from lasne "strap, thong"), apparently altered (by metathesis and influence of Old French las "lace") from nasliere (nasle), from Frankish *nastila or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *nastila- (source also of Old High German, Old Saxon nestila "lace, strap, band," German nestel "string, lace, strap"), from PIE root *ned- "to knot."

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=lanyard
 
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marcinek said:
Well, let us know when the OED changes their definition. Until then, its incorrect.
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Hmm... Does it become correct when the dictionaries include it, or do they include it because it has become acceptable usage? Is it incorrect the day before the OED releases the update that "allows" it, but correct from that day forward? These are very important questions. Not as important as whether Quartermasters are made in China, but important nonetheless!
 
Hickory n steel said:
Technically a fob isn't a lanyard according to the dictionary, but Everyone calls them lanyards now, so maybe Miriam Webster just needs to keep up with the times 😉
Definitions of words do get changed when the use of them is just about universally changed.
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Should they also include "supposably" and "definately"? I, very often, for some reason omit the "r" in "surprise." Maybe they should include that too.

Everyone is free to call it what they want, but until the dictionaries start changing the definition of "lanyard" due to a small group of knife enthusiasts who use the word incorrectly, then calling something that cannot go over your wrist, shoulder, or neck a "lanyard" is incorrect.

I'm going to start calling "choils" "artichokes." Its correct 'cause I did it!
 
marcinek said:
Should they also include "supposably" and "definately"? I, very often, for some reason omit the "r" in "surprise." Maybe they should include that too.

Everyone is free to call it what they want, but until the dictionaries start changing the definition of "lanyard" due to a small group of knife enthusiasts who use the word incorrectly, then calling something that cannot go over your wrist, shoulder, or neck a "lanyard" is incorrect.

I'm going to start calling "choils" "artichokes." Its correct 'cause I did it!
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A fob.
 
LEGION 12 said:
A fob.
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The problem with that is that the dangly thing on a knife doesn't meet the definition of a "fob" any more than it does the technical definition of a lanyard. The fact of the matter is that there is no word in a dictionary that precisely covers that little thing. Well, maybe "cord," but that's an extremely general term. Among those who use them on knives (and among those who don't, but are familiar with them), they are lanyards.
 
steve.knight.792 said:
I can se one on smaller knives but my hand drops right on m=the middle of the griptillian in my pocket so no fumbling around at all. I can't even have the clip on as it causes res to have a less then great grip. my hands suck for sure. I had to get rid my my barrage because it was not grippy enough and the effort to shut it caused my hands to wrap around it too much and get my fingers. well I found the perfect place for the lanyard
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IMO its wrong to fob this off as a lanyard:D
 
HappyDaddy said:
The problem with that is that the dangly thing on a knife doesn't meet the definition of a "fob" any more than it does the technical definition of a lanyard. The fact of the matter is that there is no word in a dictionary that precisely covers that little thing. Well, maybe "cord," but that's an extremely general term. Among those who use them on knives (and among those who don't, but are familiar with them), they are lanyards.
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A halyard.
 
HappyDaddy said:
The problem with that is that the dangly thing on a knife doesn't meet the definition of a "fob" any more than it does the technical definition of a lanyard. The fact of the matter is that there is no word in a dictionary that precisely covers that little thing.
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I disagree. Look up watch fob.
 
LEGION 12 said:
A halyard.
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hal•yard or hal•liard (ˈhæl yərd)

n.
any of various lines or tackles for hoisting a spar, sail, flag, etc., into position for use.

If Marcinek will allow us to jam "knife" into the "etc," above, we may have a winner.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Technically a fob isn't a lanyard according to the dictionary, but Everyone calls them lanyards now, so maybe Miriam Webster just needs to keep up with the times 😉
Definitions of words do get changed when the use of them is just about universally changed.
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'Everyone' doesn't call a fob a lanyard. Words have meanings. I live on a boat, and have lanyards on some of my knives, to be able to secure them to my body as I don't want to lose them overboard.

Some people refer to Frankenstein's monster as Frankenstein...doesn't make it correct.

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HappyDaddy said:
hal•yard or hal•liard (ˈhæl yərd)

n.
any of various lines or tackles for hoisting a spar, sail, flag, etc., into position for use.

If Marcinek will allow us to jam "knife" into the "etc," above, we may have a winner.
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Like I said, you are more than welcome to call things whatever you want. That doesn't mean it's correct, or that people will know what you are talking about.

But we really should get back to the discussion of "What is a flugelhorn for on a osculating carbuncle?" That IS what the OP was asking about.
 
So the cord pulling the firing mechanism on the cannon is not a lanyard because it does not go around your neck or arm?

Its just the "yanky cord"?

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