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garrote
[ guh-rot, -roht ]
noun
- 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.
- the collarlike instrument used for this method of execution.
- strangulation or throttling, especially in the course of a robbery.
- an instrument, usually a cord or wire with handles attached at the ends, used for strangling a victim.
verb (used with object)
- to execute by the garrote.
- to strangle or throttle, especially in the course of a robbery.
Other Words From
- gar·rot·er noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of garrote1
Example Sentences
Malkovich’s performance is like the garrote used to kill in the film — he applies the right pressure to the right part.
“I knew that would get your attention,” Frankie said, his voice as tight as a garrote.
He rips the phone cord out of Marion's wall and wraps it around his hands like a garrote when she threatens to activate her Life Alert button.
She was killed by a blow to the head and had been strangled with a garrote.
He had been staging a performance in which he planned to sit in a garrote during the congress to denounce repression.
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About This Word
What does garrote mean?
The garrote was a Spanish execution device used to kill someone by strangulation or damage to the spinal cord. Garrote is used to mean strangulation in general or a weapon a person would use to strangle someone.
The execution method known as the garrote involved tightening an iron collar around a person’s neck until they died. Garrote is also used for the name of the actual device used as part of this type of execution.
Today, the word garrote refers to a weapon used for strangulation, as in Police found a knife and a garrote at the suspect’s home. A garrote usually takes the form of a length of wire with handles on the ends.
As a verb, garrote is used to mean to kill someone with a garrote or to strangle or throttle someone in general, as in The coroner had determined that the man had been garroted with piano wire.
A person who strangles or kills someone with a garrote is known as a garroter.
Garrote can also be spelled garrotte or garote.
Example: Mr. Green had determined that the victim was strangled by Prof. Plum with a garrote.
Where does garrote come from?
The first records of garrote come from around 1615. It comes from the Spanish garrote, referring to the execution method.
Today, the garrote and other cruel execution devices are illegal in most places. As its Spanish origin hints at, the garotte was used for torture and execution by the Spanish Inquisition. According to Spanish chroniclers, King Philip II of Spain was known to personally order Protestants to be killed with the garotte.
In popular culture, a garrote is a common weapon used by the protagonist Agent 47 of the Hitman series of video games. He is depicted holding a garotte on the cover of the video game Hitman: Blood Money released in 2006.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to garotte?
What are some synonyms for garotte?
What are some words that often get used in discussing garotte?
How is garotte used in real life?
While it is generally against the rules to discuss murder or murder weapons on social media, but garotte is sometimes used in hyperbole or discussions of police work.
Rees-Mogg: said: "We don't go from being strangled by red tape to being garotted by red tape."https://t.co/Og1ZpwlATa
— PoliticsSense (@PoliticsSense) April 1, 2017
hello, spool of anxious thoughts winding around me like a garotte
— Talia Lavin (@chick_in_kiev) March 3, 2019
Sorting out tax stuff. Wanting to garotte everything.
— Joseph / йосиф сташко🇺🇦 (@JosephStash) June 21, 2011
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