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garrote

 - 3 dictionary results

gar⋅rote

  [guh-roht, -rot] noun, verb, -rot⋅ed, -rot⋅ing.
Use garrote in a Sentence
–noun
1. a method of capital punishment of Spanish origin in which an iron collar is tightened around a condemned person's neck until death occurs by strangulation or by injury to the spinal column at the base of the brain.
2. the collarlike instrument used for this method of execution.
3. strangulation or throttling, esp. in the course of a robbery.
4. an instrument, usually a cord or wire with handles attached at the ends, used for strangling a victim.
–verb (used with object)
5. to execute by the garrote.
6. to strangle or throttle, esp. in the course of a robbery.
Also, garote, garotte, garrotte.

Origin:
1615–25; < Sp garrote or F garrot packing-stick < ?

Related forms:
gar⋅rot⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To garrote
gar·rote or gar·rotte   (gə-rŏt', -rōt')   
n.  

    1. A method of execution formerly practiced in Spain, in which a tightened iron collar is used to strangle or break the neck of a condemned person.

    2. The iron collar used for such an execution.

    3. Strangulation, especially in order to rob.

    4. A cord or wire used for strangling.

    1. Strangulation, especially in order to rob.

    2. A cord or wire used for strangling.

tr.v.   gar·rot·ed or gar·rot·ted, gar·rot·ing or gar·rot·ting, gar·rotes or gar·rottes

  1. To execute by garrote.

  2. To strangle in order to rob.


[Spanish, cudgel, instrument of torture, possibly from Old French garrot, perhaps from garoquier, to struggle.]
gar·rot'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

garrote

device used in strangling condemned persons. In one form it consists of an iron collar attached to a post. The victim's neck is placed in the collar, and the collar is slowly tightened by a screw until asphyxiation occurs. Another form of garrote is a length of wire with wooden handles at the ends, held by the executioner.

Learn more about garrote with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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