garnish

[ gahr-nish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate:

   a free-standing wall whose lower reaches are garnished by hanging gardens.

   Synonyms: enhance, bedizen, bedeck, trim, beautify, ornament, embellish

2. to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc.:

   to garnish boiled potatoes with chopped parsley.

3. Law.
   1. to attach (as money due or property belonging to a debtor) by garnishment; garnishee:

      The court garnished his wages when he refused to pay child support.

   2. to summon in, so as to take part in litigation already pending between others.

noun

1. something placed around or on a food or in a beverage to add flavor, decorative color, etc.
2. adornment or decoration.

   Synonyms: garniture, ornament

3. Chiefly British. a fee formerly demanded of a new convict or worker by the warden, boss, or fellow prisoners or workers.

garnish

/ ˈɡɑːnɪʃ /

verb

1. to decorate; trim
2. to add something to (food) in order to improve its appearance or flavour
3. law
   1. to serve with notice of proceedings; warn
   2. to summon to proceedings already in progress
   3. to attach (a debt)
4. slang.
   to extort money from

noun

1. a decoration; trimming
2. something, such as parsley, added to a dish for its flavour or decorative effect
3. obsolete.
   a payment illegally extorted, as from a prisoner by his jailer

Derived Forms

• ˈgarnisher, noun

Other Words From

• garnish·a·ble adjective
• garnish·er noun
• over·garnish verb (used with object)
• re·garnish verb (used with object)
• under·garnish verb (used with object)
• un·garnished adjective
• well-garnished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garnish¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English garnishen, from Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir “to furnish,” from Germanic ); warn

Word History and Origins

Origin of garnish¹

C14: from Old French garnir to adorn, equip, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German warnōn to pay heed

Example Sentences

That didn’t stop me from popping the mustardy orbs in my mouth, then swabbing the fiery seafood garnish from the box.

From Washington Post

Fresh or dried herbs can work as a garnish sprinkled on top or be used to infuse milk or cream with extra flavor.

From Washington Post

If your celery root happens to come with leaves attached, chop them as a nice green garnish.

From Washington Post

Assemble tacos by topping tortillas with the beef-pineapple filling, jicama slaw, and garnishes.

From Outside Online

Tie the dill, reserving a few sprigs for garnish if desired, and bay leaf together with kitchen twine.

From Washington Post

CeleryThis often-overlooked veggie is way more than chicken wing garnish!

From The Daily Beast

Chill them in the ice water, strain, pat dry, and reserve for the garnish.

From The Daily Beast

And just how many young drug dealers even have bank accounts, or paychecks to garnish?

From The Daily Beast

To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.

From The Daily Beast

Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry.

From The Daily Beast

They manufacture clothes and wares, and we garnish ourselves with them.

From Project Gutenberg

When done, dish up the chicken in a pyramid, garnish with the fried onions and cover with tomato sauce.

From Project Gutenberg

Small pieces of cauliflower and crotons of fried bread should garnish this dish.

From Project Gutenberg

Lift them out very tenderly, pile them up in a pyramid on a dish, and garnish them with fried potatoes.

From Project Gutenberg

Have a pyramid of mashed potatoes ready, and arrange the larks round it, and garnish with a macdoine of mixed vegetables.

From Project Gutenberg