lach'-et (serokh; himas): Leather thong used for tying on sandals (see Ge 14:23; Mr 1:7 parallel). The stooping to untie the dusty shoe-latchet was esteemed by Orientals a service that was at once petty and defiling, and was usually assigned to menials.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Latchet
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr (1915). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.