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garter

[ gahr-ter ]
/ ˈgɑr tər /
SEE 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.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM garter

gar·ter·less, adjectiveun·gar·ter, verb (used with object)

Words nearby garter

garrotte, garrulity, garrulous, garrya, garryowen, garter, garter belt, garter snake, garter stitch, garth, Gärtner's bacillus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to garter

badge, ribbon, bands, braces, garters, colors, kudos, emblem, laurels, citation, cross, award, mention, accolade, star, distinction, medal, order, bays, shoulder straps

Example sentences 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