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.
the badge of the Order of the Garter.
membership in the Order.
(initial capital letter)the Order itself.
(usually initial capital letter)a member of the Order.
verb (used with object)
to fasten with a garter.
Origin of garter
1300–50;Middle English < Old North Frenchgartier, derivative of garet the bend of the knee < Celtic; compare Welshgar shank, Bretongâr leg
Related formsgar·ter·less, adjectiveun·gar·ter, verb (used with object)
early 14c., from Old North French gartier "band just above or below the knee" (Old French jartier, 14c., Modern French jarretière), from garet "bend of the knee," perhaps from Gaulish (cf. Welsh garr "leg"). Garter as the highest order of knighthood (mid-14c.), according to Froissart was established c.1344 by Edward III, though the usual story of how it came about is late (1614) and perhaps apocryphal. The verb is mid-15c., from the noun. Garter snake (U.S.) so called from resemblance to a ribbon. Garter belt first noticed 1913.
