garret

¹ American  

[gar-it] / ˈgær ɪt /

noun

1. an attic, usually a small, wretched one.

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garret ² American  

[gar-it] / ˈgær ɪt /

noun

Masonry.

1. gallet.

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garret British  

/ ˈɡærɪt /

noun

1. another word for attic

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Other Word Forms

• garreted adjective

Etymology

Origin of garret¹

1300–50; Middle English garite watchtower < Old French garite, guerite watchtower, derivative of garir, guarir to defend, protect; garrison

Origin of garret²

First recorded in 1835–45; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

They’re not just painting in a garret on their own.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

In May 1976, Rybakov’s close friend, dissident artist Yevgeny Rukhin, died in a fire in his garret studio in St. Petersburg, where he was meeting with friends.

From Washington Post • Dec. 23, 2022

A triangle conjures up the narrow garret in which Harriet Jacobs, the author of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” hid for seven years to avoid capture.

From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2022

The romantic image of the writer in the garret doesn't do justice to the tedious reality of churning out words, one after another.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2022

He led the way inside, and up the stairs to the garret.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham