lanyard

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lanyard /ˈlanjəd/ (also laniard)

▶noun

• 1 a rope used to secure or raise and lower something such as a ship's sails.

• 2 a cord passed round the neck, shoulder, or wrist for holding a whistle or similar object.

– origin ME lanyer, from OFr. laniere, altered by assoc. with yard1.