Dictionary Home »
Dictionary Definitions » garnish
garnish
Garnish is defined as to add decorative items to something or to withhold wages to satisfy a legal order to repay a debt.
(verb)- An example of to garnish is to top a bowl of soup with a sprig of parsley.
- An example of to garnish is to send $250 a week of an employee's wages to the court for the employee's child support debt.
The definition of a garnish is a decorative topping.
(noun)An example of a garnish is a cherry and pineapple on top of a pina colada.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.
See garnish in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to decorate; adorn; embellish; trim
- to decorate (food) with something that adds color or flavor: a steak garnished with parsley
- Law to attach as a result of a garnishment
Origin: ME garnischen < extended stem of OFr garnir, to furnish, protect < Gmc *warnjan > warn
noun
- a decoration; ornament
- something put on or around food to add color or flavor, as parsley or watercress
- Obsolete a fee, esp. one formerly extorted from new prisoners by inmates of English jails or by the jailer
Related Forms:
- garnisher noun
See garnish in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb gar·nished, gar·nish·ing, gar·nish·es
- a. To enhance in appearance by adding decorative touches; embellish: a coat that was garnished with a fur collar.b. To decorate (prepared food or drink) with small colorful or savory items: garnished the potatoes with parsley.
- Law To garnishee.
- a. Ornamentation; embellishment.b. An embellishment added to a prepared food or drink for decoration or added flavor.
- Slang An unwarranted fee, such as one extorted from a new prisoner by a jailer.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English garnishen
Origin: , from Old French garnir, garniss-
Origin: , of Germanic origin; see wer-4 in Indo-European roots
.Learn more about garnish
