occhiello

Occhiello is an Italian noun with several related senses. In journalism and publishing, it denotes a short line of text placed above or beside a headline to provide context, summarize the article, or catch the reader’s attention. This kicker or dek is typically set apart in typography from the main headline, sometimes in a smaller font, uppercase, or italics. The occhiello can be a complete sentence or a fragment and is commonly used on newspapers and magazines, though its presence varies by publication and era, and it is less common in digital-native outlets where straplines or dek lines are more prevalent.

In addition to its editorial use, occhiello also refers to a physical feature in Italian: a buttonhole or eyelet. In this sense, it denotes a small reinforced opening through which a button or lace passes. This meaning is common in clothing, leather goods, and related crafts, and the term can describe both functional buttonholes and decorative eyelets or grommets. The word’s application to fabric and accessories highlights its figurative sense of a small, eye-like opening.

Etymology and usage: occhiello derives from the noun occhio (eye) with the diminutive suffix -ello, conveying the sense of a small eye-like feature. In editorial contexts, the term is understood by professionals and readers as the introductory line that draws attention and frames the article, while in textile contexts it is a straightforward term for an eyelet or buttonhole.

See also: deck, kicker, buttonhole, eyelet.