love-lock

These love-locks, or ear-locks, in which too many of our nation have of late begun to glory, whatever they may seem to be in the eyes and judgement of many humorous, singular, effeminate, ruffianly, vain-glorious or time-serving persons, who repute and deem them a very generous, necessary, beautiful, and comely ornament; […]

In the early 2000s, two of Paris' famous bridges were transformed into what are called “Love Bridges,” their railings completely covered with “love-locks,” padlocks on which couples from around the world carve their initials before attaching them and then throwing the keys into the Seine as a declaration of undying passion.