I. ˈgärlənd, ˈgȧl- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English gerland, garland, from Middle French garlande, from Old French, perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German wieren to adorn, Old High German wiara fine gold — more at wire
1.
a. : a wreath, chaplet, or coronet worn as a mark of distinction: as
(1) obsolete : a royal crown
till Richard wear the garland of the realm — Shakespeare
(2) : a wreath awarded to a hero or to the victor in ancient games
where one gaineth a garland of bays, hundreds have had a wreath of hemp — Thomas Fuller
b. : a mark of esteem or affection : accolade
so beloved a … minister that he held one charge for 40 years and was retired with garlands — A.W.Long
c. obsolete : a person who is highly prized : jewel
call him noble that was now your hate, him vile that was your garland — Shakespeare
2. : a headband of gold, silver, precious stones, or other costly material
a dazzling garland of diamonds for the hair — A.P.Herbert
3. : a wreath or festoon of leaves or flowers to be worn on the head or used to decorate the object
crowned the May queen with a garland
laid a garland of oak leaves at the foot of the statue
4. : something that resembles a garland: as
a. : an object that reminds one of a wreath or festoon
garlands of lights on the ferries — Brooks Atkinson
b.
(1) : a grommet or ring of rope used for various purposes aboard ship
(2) archaic : a band of rope, iron, or wood used on ships or in shore batteries to hold shot in place
c. : a carved wreath serving as a decorative motif
an ornate fireplace carved in oak with … high-relief garlands and swags — H.S.Morrison
d. : a heraldic wreath of laurel or of oak leaves and acorns
e. : a strip of cotton cloth or burlap used in military camouflaging to thicken overhead cover or to conceal edges of a net
tie garlands of colored cloth onto a fishnet to make it resemble foliage — Carl Mann
5. : a collection of extracts : anthology
several of these essays make up a kind of friendship's garland — Willard Thorp
especially : a chapbook containing ballads or songs
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English garlanden, from garland, n.
1. : to form into a garland
thine are these early wilding flowers though garlanded by me — P.B.Shelley
2.
a. : to crown with or as if with a garland
garlanded his shaggy head with roses — P.B.Kyne
goose stealers sat in the stocks garlanded with goose wings — S.P.B.Mais
b. : to confer an accolade upon
garlanded as a brilliant leader after the first Battle of Bull Run — A.W.Long
3. : to surround or deck with or as if with a garland : engarland
garland the crowns of profile hats — Lois Long
one of the devices of the modern camoufleur is the use of nets garlanded with strips of burlap — Newsweek