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

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

In one, a woman in a see-through halter top is holding a machine gun.

From Los Angeles Times

Wearing a crisscross black halter top, she beamed while packing up her room to start her freshman year at Florida State University.

From New York Times

Before heading out to dance, she snapped a photo of herself in her party gear — black shorts and black halter top for a joyous night of electronic music in a dusty field.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cord
• harness
• leash
• rope
• shackle