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garroter

 - 3 dictionary results

gar⋅rote

  [guh-roht, -rot] noun, verb, -rot⋅ed, -rot⋅ing.
Use garroter 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 garroter
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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Word Origin & History

garrote 
1622, "Spanish method of capital punishment by strangulation," from Sp. garrote "stick for twisting cord," of unknown origin, perhaps from O.Fr. guaroc "club, stick, rod, shaft of a crossbow," probably ultimately Celtic. But possibly from Frank. *wrokkan "to twist" (cf. M.Du. wroken "to twist"). The verb meaning "to execute with a garrote" is from 1851; sense of "choking and then robbing" is from 1852.
"I have no hesitation in pronouncing death by the garrot, at once the most manly, and the least offensive to the eye." [Major John Richardson, "British Legion," 1837]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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