garnish

[ gahr-nish ]

/ ˈgɑr nɪʃ /

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verb (used with object)

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

to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc.: to garnish boiled potatoes with chopped parsley.

Law.

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

noun

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

adornment or decoration.

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

Nearby words

Origin of garnish

1300–50; Middle English garnishen < Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir to furnish < Gmc); cf. warn

SYNONYMS FOR garnish

1. embellish, ornament, beautify, trim, bedeck, bedizen, set off, enhance. 5. ornament; garniture.

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Related forms

gar·nish·a·ble, adjectivegar·nish·er, nouno·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, adjectivewell-gar·nished, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for garnish

Chill them in the ice water, strain, pat dry, and reserve for the garnish.
Daniel Boulud Reveals His 4 Favorite Recipes From His New Cookbook|Daniel Boulud|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And just how many young drug dealers even have bank accounts, or paychecks to garnish?
Should People Be Forced to Buy Liability Insurance for their Guns?|Megan McArdle|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry.
Lights, Camera, Cocktails|Brody Brown|October 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Finish with Angostura bitters and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Lights, Camera, Cocktails|Brody Brown|September 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Pour the gravy hot round the cutlets, and garnish with little bunches of curled parsley.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches|Eliza Leslie
Put a slice of terrine de foie gras on top, garnish with peas au beurre and Julienne potatoes.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Stuffed olives are used principally in sauces, or as a garnish for meats and fish.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Always serve either cream or tomato sauce with croquettes and cutlets and garnish them with parsley or cress.
Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book|Mary A. Wilson
Sprinkle with salt, and serve them on a napkin, or as a garnish.
The Century Cook Book|Mary Ronald

British Dictionary definitions for garnish

garnish

/ (ˈɡɑːnɪʃ) /

verb (tr)

to decorate; trim

to add something to (food) in order to improve its appearance or flavour

law

to serve with notice of proceedings; warn
obsolete to summon to proceedings already in progress
to attach (a debt)

slang to extort money from

noun

a decoration; trimming

something, such as parsley, added to a dish for its flavour or decorative effect

obsolete, slang a payment illegally extorted, as from a prisoner by his jailer

Derived Formsgarnisher, noun

Word Origin for garnish

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for garnish

garnish

late 14c., from Old French garniss-, present participle stem of garnir "provide, furnish; fortify, reinforce," from a Germanic stem related to Proto-Germanic *warnejan "be cautious, guard, provide for" (cf. Old High German warnon "to take heed," Old English warnian "to take warning, beware;" see warn). Sense evolution is from "arm oneself" to "fit out" to "embellish," which was the earliest meaning in English, though the others also were used in Middle English. Culinary sense of "to decorate a dish for the table" predominated after c.1700. Older meaning survives in legal sense of "warning of attachment of funds" (1570s). Related: Garnished; garnishing.

garnish

late 14c., "set of tableware" (probably a dozen; usually pewter), from garnish (v.). Sense of "embellishments to food" is from 1670s.

garnish

verb (used with object)

noun

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Origin of garnish

Examples from the Web for garnish

garnish

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for garnish

garnish

garnish