In the nineteenth century, a paillette was a simple piece of coloured foil or bright metal used to ornament textiles. In the latter half of the twentieth century, the term paillette was used for a much wider range of shapes and materials, with one or more holes to attach the shape to the textile. The term is often incorrectly used for a sequin (UK), which is a small disc with a single hole in the centre.
The term 'paillette' derives from the French word paillette, the diminutive of paille, meaning straw or chaff.
See also the TRC Needles entries on a cuvette, sequin, spangle (UK), or a spangle (USA).
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 9th July 2016).
GVE