The United States of America Department of Defense's Joint Attaché School in Washington, D.C. also offered two explanations as to the origin of the aiguillettes but neither agree with Captain Beckett's. The U.S. military's attaché school instructors tied aiguillettes to the French word for "knitting needles" and related that in medieval times, a knight's squire would literally have to sew him into some parts of his uniform/armor. Thus the needle-like tips on the dress aiguillettes. The second explanation offered had to do with the a squire throwing the horses reins over his shoulder as he carried the saddle in preparation for saddling the knight's mount (horsemen today continue to do the same). Thus the aiguillettes worn over the shoulder.