halter
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 rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects; used for maintaining equilibrium during flight
- A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
- A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
- A halter top.
- One who halts or limps; a cripple.
- Alternative form of haltere.
Verb
Verb Forms: haltered, haltering, halters
- To put a halter on; to restrain or check by force.
- hang with a halter
- prevent the progress or free movement of
- To place a halter on.
Examples
- His opponent tried to HALTER his scoring streak by playing defensive words.
- What do you mean, you didn't halter the horses when we stopped for the night?
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English halter, helter, helfter, from Old English hælfter, hælftre (“halter”), from Proto-West Germanic *halftrijā (“harness”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to cut”), equivalent to half- + -ter.
Cognate with Scots helter (“halter”), Dutch halfter, halster (“halter”), Low German halfter, helchter, halter (“halter”), German Halfter (“halter, holster”).
Synonyms
balancer, cramp, hackamore, haltere, hamper, hangman's halter, hangman's rope, hemp, hempen necktie, strangle, Bridport dagger, collar, halter, hangman's knot, hangman's noose, headcollar, headpiece, headstall, hempen collar, hempen cravat
Scrabble Score: 9
halter: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordhalter: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
halter: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary