Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Garnish?

\Gar"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Garnished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Garnishing}.] [OE. garnischen, garnissen, OF. garnir to provide, strengthen, prepare, garnish, warn, F. garnir to provide, furnish, garnish, -- of German origin; cf. OHG. warn[=o]n to provide, equip; akin to G. wahren to watch, E. aware, ware, wary, and cf. also E. warn. See {Wary}, {-ish}, and cf. {Garment}, {Garrison}.] 1. To decorate with ornamental appendages; to set off; to adorn; to embellish. All within with flowers was garnished. --Spenser. 2. (Cookery) To ornament, as a dish, with something laid about it; as, a dish garnished with parsley. 3. To furnish; to supply. 4. To fit with fetters. [Cant] --Johnson. 5. (Law) To warn by garnishment; to give notice to; to garnishee. See {Garnishee}, v. t. --Cowell.
\Gar"nish\, n. 1. Something added for embellishment; decoration; ornament; also, dress; garments, especially such as are showy or decorated. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. --Shak. Matter and figure they produce; For garnish this, and that for use. --Prior. 2. (Cookery) Something set round or upon a dish as an embellishment. See {Garnish}, v. t., 2. --Smart. 3. Fetters. [Cant] 4. A fee; specifically, in English jails, formerly an unauthorized fee demanded by the old prisoners of a newcomer. [Cant] --Fielding. {Garnish bolt} (Carp.), a bolt with a chamfered or faceted head. --Knight.