\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.
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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.

\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.