halter
pronunciation
How to pronounce halter in British English:
UK [ˈhɔ:ltə(r)]
How to pronounce halter in American English:
US [ˈhɔltɚ]
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- Noun:
- rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for leading
- a rope that is used by a hangman to execute persons who have been condemned to death by hanging
- a woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving the back and arms uncovered
- either of the club-like rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects; used for maintaining equilibrium during flight
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- Verb:
- hang with a halter
- prevent the progress or free movement of
Word Origin
- halter (n.)
- Old English hælfter "rope for leading a horse," from Proto-Germanic *halftra- "that by which something is held" (cognates: Old Saxon haliftra "halter," Old High German halftra, Middle Dutch halfter), from suffixed form of PIE *kelp- "to hold, grasp" (see helve). Also "hangman's noose" (mid-15c.). In women's clothing sense, originally "strap attached to the top of a backless bodice and looped around the neck," 1935, later extended to the tops themselves.
Example
- 1. To control with or as if with a halter .
- 2. Mr. halter proposed a thorough investigation of the two main gestores .
- 3. Four or five mules long , a string is fashioned , each mule 's halter tied to the rear of the next mule 's aparejo .
- 4. Their intelligence means that alpacas are quick to train to a halter and leader .
- 5. Lead a horse by the halter .