from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Garter \Gar"ter\, n. [OE. gartier, F. jarreti[`e]re, fr. OF.
garet bend of the knee, F. jarret; akin to Sp. garra claw,
Prov. garra leg. See {Garrote}.]
1. A band used to prevent a stocking from slipping down on
the leg.
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2. The distinguishing badge of the highest order of
knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the
Garter, instituted by Edward III.; also, the Order itself.
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3. (Her.) Same as {Bendlet}.
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{Garter fish} (Zool.), a fish of the genus {Lepidopus},
having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the
scabbard fish.
{Garter king-at-arms}, the chief of the official heralds of
England, king-at-arms to the Order of the Garter; -- often
abbreviated to {Garter}.
{Garter snake} (Zool.), one of several harmless American
snakes of the genus {Eut[ae]nia}, of several species (esp.
{E. saurita} and {E. sirtalis}); one of the striped
snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of
color.
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