garter

American  

[gahr-ter] / ˈgɑr tər /

noun

1. 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.

2. a similar band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fasten with a garter.

garter ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɑːtə /

noun

1. a band, usually of elastic, worn round the arm or leg to hold up a shirtsleeve, sock, or stocking

2. 1. an elastic strap attached to a belt or corset having a fastener at the end, for holding up women's stockings

   2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): suspender.  a similar fastener attached to a garter belt worn by men in order to support socks

3. See gut

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verb

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

Garter ² British  

/ ˈɡɑːtə /

noun

1. See Order of the Garter

2. (sometimes not capital)

   1. the badge of this Order

   2. membership of this Order

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Other Word Forms

• garterless adjective
• ungarter verb (used with object)

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Official snake: The giant garter snake is recognized as the official snake of California.

From Los Angeles Times

When mice invaded his house, he didn’t poison them but enlisted the help of a garter snake he found outside.

From The Wall Street Journal

The question for the giant garter snake’s future lies in whether it was saved in time.

From Los Angeles Times

“There was a lot of discontentment from people feeling pressure to do things they didn’t want, like the garter toss, or who had family members trying to make the event about them,” Mae recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

The Sierra garter snake told us this is not the case.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• badge
• ribbon