www.alphadictionary.com

Like lanyard and lasso, it begins with "la", and there is some sort of chord involved. Probably this is just a coincidence.

This object is also a "riata". I find it an interesting coincidence that this is spelled with all the same letters as "lariat", somewhat rearranged.

Could "lariat" be a contraction of "la riata"?

The evidence is overwhelming, Barbara. La riata is a lariat.