Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Garter?

\Gar"ter\, n. [OE. gartier, F. jarreti[`e]re, fr. OF. garet bend of the knee, F. jarret; akin to Sp. garra claw, Prov. garra leg. See {Garrote}.] 1. A band used to prevent a stocking from slipping down on the leg. 2. The distinguishing badge of the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the Garter, instituted by Edward III.; also, the Order itself. 3. (Her.) Same as {Bendlet}. {Garter fish} (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the genus {Lepidopus}, having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the scabbard fish. {Garter king-at-arms}, the chief of the official heralds of England, king-at-arms to the Order of the Garter; -- often abbreviated to {Garter}. {Garter snake} (Zo["o]l.), one of several harmless American snakes of the genus {Eut[ae]nia}, of several species (esp. {E. saurita} and {E. sirtalis}); one of the striped snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of color.
\Gar"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gartered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gartering}.] 1. To bind with a garter. He . . . could not see to garter his hose. --Shak. 2. To invest with the Order of the Garter. --T. Warton.