halter 1
— halterlike , adj.
/hawl"teuhr/ , n.
1. a rope or strap with a noose or headstall for leading or restraining horses or cattle.
2. a rope with a noose for hanging criminals; the hangman's noose; gallows.
3. death by hanging.
4. Also called halter top . a woman's top, secured behind the neck and across the back, leaving the arms, shoulders, upperback, and often the midriff bare.
v.t.
5. to put a halter on; restrain as by a halter.
6. to hang (a person).
adj.
7. (of a garment) having a neckline consisting of a cord, strap, band, or the like that is attached to or forms part of the front of a backless and sleeveless bodice and extends around the neck: a halter dress.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE haelfter; c. G Halfter ]
halter 2
/hal"teuhr/ , n. , pl. halteres /hal tear"eez/ .
one of a pair of slender, club-shaped appendages on the hindmost body segment of a fly, serving to maintain its balance in flight. Also called balancer .
[ halter jumping weight hálter, akin to hállesthai, L salire to jump (see SALTANT) ]
halter 3
/hawl"teuhr/ , n.
a person who halts or brings to a stop.
[ HALT 1 + -ER 1 ]
halter 4
/hawl"teuhr/ , n.
a person who halts, falters, or hesitates.
[ 1400-50; late ME; see HALT 2 , -ER 1 ]