definitions

garter

[ gahr-ter ]
/ ˈgɑr tər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR garter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also called, British, sock suspender, suspender. an article of clothing for holding up a stocking or sock, usually an elastic band around the leg or an elastic strap hanging from a girdle or other undergarment.
a similar band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve.
a leather strap for passing through a loop at the back of a boot and buckling around the leg to keep the boot from slipping.
British.
  1. the badge of the Order of the Garter.
  2. membership in the Order.
  3. (initial capital letter) the Order itself.
  4. (usually initial capital letter) a member of the Order.

verb (used with object)

to fasten with a garter.

RELATED CONTENT

Is An “Equinox” The Same As A “Solstice”?The word equinox comes from Latin and means "equality of night and day." So ... what's a solstice then?
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

badge, ribbon, braces, garters, colors, kudos, emblem, citation, cross, award, mention, accolade, star, distinction, medal, order

Nearby words

garrulity, garrulous, garrya, garryowen, garré's disease, garter, garter belt, garter snake, garter stitch, garth, garvey

Origin of garter

1300–50; Middle English < Old North French gartier, derivative of garet the bend of the knee < Celtic; compare Welsh gar shank, Breton gâr leg

Related forms

gar·ter·less, adjectiveun·gar·ter, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for garter

British Dictionary definitions for garter (1 of 2)

garter

/ (ˈɡɑːtə) /

noun

a band, usually of elastic, worn round the arm or leg to hold up a shirtsleeve, sock, or stocking
US and Canadian
  1. an elastic strap attached to a belt or corset having a fastener at the end, for holding up women's stockings
  2. a similar fastener attached to a garter belt worn by men in order to support socksAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): suspender
have someone's guts for garters See gut (def. 10)

verb

(tr) to fasten, support, or secure with or as if with a garter

Word Origin for garter

C14: from Old Northern French gartier, from garet bend of the knee, probably of Celtic origin

British Dictionary definitions for garter (2 of 2)

Garter

/ (ˈɡɑːtə) /

noun the Garter

See Order of the Garter
(sometimes not capital)
  1. the badge of this Order
  2. membership of this Order
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