View source for Poynts

'''Poynts''' are places where an item is laced to another item, e.g. [[armour]] is laced together with armour poynts. It was generally the method used to hold certain types of [[clothing|clothes]] on e.g. [[hose]] to a [[doublet]] and [[sleeve]]s to the [[bodice]] of a gown.

Poynts can also refer to the [[lacing]] itself - which was generally made of some form of [[braid]]. This braid had to be narrow enough to pass through the holes created in the garment/armour, and also had to be strong and hard-wearing enough to serve the purpose for which it was created (especially the case with [[armour]] poynts).

Poynts also needed [[aglet]]s both to stop the end of the braid from fraying, and also to assist in lacing the poynt through the holes.

=== Why is it spelt ''poynts''? ===

In [[period]] it was spelled in the usual multitude of ways. These days either points or poynts is equally valid, but if you use poynts - it's easier to distinguish it from any other meaning of the word point.

Amongst [[re-enactor]]s this spelling is gaining the same stigma as ''maille'' does for ''[[mail]]''.
[[category:clothing]]