I. noun
or gar·rotte also gar·otte gəˈrä]t, gaˈr-, -ˈrō], ˈgarə] also ˈgerə], usu ]d.+V
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish garrote club, garrote, probably from Middle French garrot heavy wooden projectile
1.
a. : a Spanish method of execution by means of an iron collar affixed to a post and tightened by a screw until the victim is strangled
b. : the instrument with which the execution is effected
before each turn of the garrotte the Greek was ordered to tell the truth — W.S.Maugham
2.
a. : strangulation as if with the garrote especially with robbery as the motive
b. : an implement (as a length of piano wire with wooden handles) used for this purpose
II. transitive verb
or garrotte also garotte “\
( garroted or garrotted also garotted ; garroted or garrotted also garotted ; garroting or garrotting also garotting ; garrotes or garrottes also garottes )
1. : to execute with or as if with a garrote
the rule now is to garrote culprits within the walls of the prison — Westminster Gazette
2. : to seize by the throat from behind in order to strangle and rob
men … who would rather garrote a traveler than anything else in the world — Nicholas Monsarrat