Gar"ter (?), n. [OE. gartier, F. jarretiere, 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.
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.
3. Her. Same as Bendlet.
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 Eutaenia, of several species (esp. E. saurita and E. sirtalis); one of the striped snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of color.
© Webster 1913.
Gar"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gartered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Gartering.] 1. To bind with a garter.
He . . . could not see to garter his hose.
Shak.
2. To invest with the Order of the Garter.
T. Warton.
© Webster 1913. | 
