garrote
Americannoun
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a method of capital punishment of Spanish origin in which an iron collar is tightened around a condemned person's neck until death occurs by strangulation or by injury to the spinal column at the base of the brain.
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the collarlike instrument used for this method of execution.
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strangulation or throttling, especially in the course of a robbery.
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an instrument, usually a cord or wire with handles attached at the ends, used for strangling a victim.
verb (used with object)
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to execute by the garrote.
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to strangle or throttle, especially in the course of a robbery.
Usage
What does garrote mean? The garrote was a Spanish execution device used to kill someone by strangulation or damage to the spinal cord. Garrote is used to mean strangulation in general or a weapon a person would use to strangle someone. The execution method known as the garrote involved tightening an iron collar around a person’s neck until they died. Garrote is also used for the name of the actual device used as part of this type of execution. Today, the word garrote refers to a weapon used for strangulation, as in Police found a knife and a garrote at the suspect’s home. A garrote usually takes the form of a length of wire with handles on the ends. As a verb, garrote is used to mean to kill someone with a garrote or to strangle or throttle someone in general, as in The coroner had determined that the man had been garroted with piano wire. A person who strangles or kills someone with a garrote is known as a garroter. Garrote can also be spelled garrotte or garote. Example: Mr. Green had determined that the victim was strangled by Prof. Plum with a garrote.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of garrote
1615–25; < Spanish garrote or French garrot packing-stick < ?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Outside, I take in the scene: street preachers denouncing Gnosticism, a lone banker trying to garrote himself with ticket tape, and the Bull – that gold, beautiful bull – running through the streets like Zeus.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2015
“Forgive me” was a favorite Wallace phrase, the caress before the garrote.
From New York Times ● Apr. 8, 2012
If Author Fleming is guilty of using the old school tie as a cultural garrote, it is, fittingly enough, his own.
From Time Magazine Archive
It was a gag bill, with a touch of the garrote.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Whether help is good for them or not,” said the lady’s husband, a very straight and wiry man with a garrote collar.
From Dr. Sevier by Cable, George Washington
It first belonged to the nephew and heir of Atahualpa, the Incan King whom the Spanish conquistadores garroted in 1533.
From Time Magazine Archive
Some of these robbers were arrested, but the Virgin had compassion on them for leaving the proceeds of their raid, so none was garroted or even sentenced.
From Myths & Legends of our New Possessions & Protectorate by Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery)
But the religious asserted that they would not obey, and that, if they were garroted by the soldiers, they would be martyrs.
"Say nothing to me," returned Lawyer Perkins, hastily thrusting a handful of loose papers into the open throat of the green bag, which he garroted an instant afterwards with a thick black cord.
From The Stillwater Tragedy by Aldrich, Thomas Bailey
Soon the town, garroted as it were, seemed to be asleep, and safe from robbers and evil-doers, except through the roofs.
From Maitre Cornelius by Balzac, Honoré de
No male impersonators garroting a mandolin—not any in mine!
From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume I. (of X.) by Wilder, Marshall Pinckney
Yes; but there won't be much left of me if you continue garroting me; and would you mind my picking up my hat?
From Nell, of Shorne Mills or, One Heart's Burden by Garvice, Charles
Felix had therefore attached himself to his young wife by every bond without any appearance of garroting her,—relying for his happiness on the charms of habit.
From A Daughter of Eve by Balzac, Honoré de
Cakes and rain perpetually, the strings for a throat, garroting the night...the rain, it raineth every night.
From Voices from the Past by Bartlett, Paul Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
