halter

¹

[ hawl-ter ]

noun

1. a rope or strap with a noose or headstall for leading or restraining horses or cattle.
2. a rope with a noose for hanging criminals; the hangman's noose; gallows.
3. death by hanging.
4. Also called halter top. a woman's top, secured behind the neck and across the back, leaving the arms, shoulders, upper back, and often the midriff bare.

verb (used with object)

1. to put a halter on; restrain as by a halter.
2. to hang (a person).

adjective

1. (of a garment) having a neckline consisting of a cord, strap, band, or the like that is attached to or forms part of the front of a backless and sleeveless bodice and extends around the neck:

   a halter dress.

halter

²

[ hal-ter ]

noun

, plural hal·te·res [hal-, teer, -eez].

1. one of a pair of slender, club-shaped appendages on the hindmost body segment of a fly, serving to maintain its balance in flight.

halter

³

[ hawl-ter ]

noun

1. one who stops.

halter

⁴

[ hawl-ter ]

noun

1. a person who halts, falters, or hesitates.

halter

/ ˈhɔːltə /

noun

1. a rope or canvas headgear for a horse, usually with a rope for leading
2. Also calledhalterneck a style of woman's top fastened behind the neck and waist, leaving the back and arms bare
3. a rope having a noose for hanging a person
4. death by hanging

verb

1. to secure with a halter or put a halter on
2. to hang (someone)

Other Words From

• hal·ter·like adjective
• un·hal·tered adjective
• un·hal·ter·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of halter¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English hælfter; cognate with German Halfter

Origin of halter²

First recorded in 1820–25; from New Latin, special use of Latin haltēr “handheld weight used in long jumps,” from Greek háltēr, derivative of hállesthai “to jump, leap,” akin to Latin salīre with the same meaning; salient

Origin of halter³

halt ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of halter⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; halt ², -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of halter¹

Old English hælfter; related to Old High German halftra, Middle Dutch heliftra

Example Sentences

Sitting lotus-style in a yellow halter top with a stick of sage smoldering in one hand, the Atlanta native described an exercise she did to become acquainted with her own shadow — a term coined by the early 20th century psychologist Carl Jung to describe the parts of our psyches that we have buried deep in our subconscious.

From Los Angeles Times

I write down, “black halter top, belt, skirt ...” and then I go back to it.

From Los Angeles Times

So from the beginning process with Nava was, "Let's try this on. Let's go through all the different shapes: crop-tops, high necks, low necks, halter necks. All the different shapes of what works for you, what works for your body, what you don't like, what you do like."

From Salon

She wore a white mini skirt, a sparkly white boa, and a powder blue halter top with matching cowboy boots.

From Salon

I write down, “black halter top, belt, skirt ...” and then I go back to it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cord
• harness
• leash
• rope
• shackle