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
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.
In the hillier north of Manchuela, at an elevation of almost 3,500 feet, bobal is just one of many grapes grown by Rosalía Molina and Manolo Garrote at Altolandon.
From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2018
Mr. Garrote manages the vineyards, and Ms. Molina makes the wines.
From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2018
The dead-fall and Garrote traps are very successful in trapping the martin.
From Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making by Gibson, William Hamilton
Page 115 This trap, which we will call the Garrote, is truly represented by our illustration.
From Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making by Gibson, William Hamilton
Garrote also means a cudgel, or heavy walking-stick; and the tourniquet used by surgeons.
From The Bible in Spain - Vol. 2 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry
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.
