halter

halter
    n 1: rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for
         leading [syn: {halter}, {hackamore}]
    2: a rope that is used by a hangman to execute persons who have
       been condemned to death by hanging [syn: {hangman's rope},
       {hangman's halter}, {halter}, {hemp}, {hempen necktie}]
    3: a woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving
       the back and arms uncovered
    4: either of the rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects;
       used for maintaining equilibrium during flight [syn:
       {halter}, {haltere}, {balancer}]
    v 1: hang with a halter
    2: prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in
       his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation
       wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small
       countries" [syn: {hamper}, {halter}, {cramp}, {strangle}]
    

Halter \Hal"ter\ (h[add]l"t[~e]r), n. [OE. halter, helter,
   helfter, AS. h[ae]lftre; akin to G. halfter, D. halfter,
   halster, and also to E. helve. See {Helve}.]
   A strong strap or cord. Especially:
   (a) A rope or strap, with or without a headstall, for leading
       or tying a horse.
   (b) A rope for hanging malefactors; a noose. --Shak.
       [1913 Webster]

             No man e'er felt the halter draw
             With good opinion of the law.        --Trumbull.
       [1913 Webster]
    

Halter \Hal"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Haltered} (-t[~e]rd); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Haltering}.]
   To tie by the neck with a rope, strap, or halter; to put a
   halter on; to subject to a hangman's halter. "A haltered
   neck." --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Halter \Halt"er\ (-[~e]r), n.
   One who halts or limps; a cripple.
   [1913 Webster]
    

103 Moby Thesaurus words for "halter":
      Oregon boat, ax, back band, backstrap, bearing rein, bellyband,
      bilbo, bit, blinders, blinds, block, bond, bonds, breeching,
      bridle, camisole, caparison, cavesson, chains, checkrein,
      cheekpiece, chinband, cinch, collar, cross, crownband, crupper,
      cuffs, curb, death chair, death chamber, drop, electric chair,
      fetter, gag, gag swivel, gallows, gallows-tree, gas chamber,
      gibbet, girth, guillotine, gyves, hackamore, hames, hametugs,
      hamper, handcuffs, harness, headgear, headstall, hemp,
      hempen collar, hip straps, hitch up, hobbles, hook up, hopples,
      hot seat, irons, jaquima, jerk line, leading strings, leash,
      lethal chamber, lines, maiden, manacle, martingale, muzzle, noose,
      noseband, pillory, pole strap, reins, restraint, restraints,
      ribbons, rope, saddle, scaffold, shackle, shaft tug, side check,
      snaffle, stake, stocks, straightjacket, strait-waistcoat,
      straitjacket, stranglehold, surcingle, tack, tackle, tether,
      the chair, trammel, trammels, trappings, tree, tug, winker braces,
      yoke