I. ˈgär]d.ər, ˈgȧ]d.ə(r, ]tə-\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French gartier, from garet, garret bend of the knee, hock, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh gar shank, Old Irish gairri calves (of the legs)
1.
a. : a circular band of elastic with or without a fastener worn to hold up a stocking or sock — called also suspender
b. : a strap of elastic hanging from a girdle, corset, or belt and having a fastener to support a stocking
c. : a circular band of elastic worn over a shirt sleeve to regulate its length — called also arm garter, sleeve garter
2. usually capitalized
a. : the distinguishing badge of Great Britain's Order of the Garter consisting of a strip of dark blue velvet edged with gold, having a buckle and pendant of gold, and worn below the left knee by men and on the left arm by women
b. : membership in the Order of the Garter
he declined the offer of the Garter
c. : garter king of arms
d. : a circular band borne on the collar, badge, and star and about the armorial escutcheon of a member of the Order of the Garter that is inscribed with the motto of the Order and merges at its bottom into a representation of the buckle and free end as they appear when the garter is worn buckled in the prescribed manner — compare circlet 1c
3. : a wavy band that resembles a heraldic garter and is incorporated into an emblem or seal usually to carry a motto
the United States shield, encircled with a garter bearing the words E Pluribus Unum — Elizabeth W. King
4. : a tape or streamer held for a circus performer to leap over
5. : garter snake
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English garteren, from garter, n.
: to fasten with or as if with a garter
see to garter his hose — Shakespeare