halter

(hôl′tər)

noun

1. a rope, cord, strap, etc., usually with a headstall, for tying or leading an animal
2. a bitless headstall, with or without a lead rope
1. a rope for hanging a person; hangman's noose
2. execution by hanging
a garment for covering the breast, held up by a cord or loop around the neck, and worn by women and girls to bare the shoulders and back

Origin: ME < OE hælftre (akin to Ger halfter) < base of helfe (see helve): basic sense “that by which something is held”

transitive verb

noun pl. halteres

either of a pair of knobbed, threadlike, modified second wings serving as balancing organs in dipteran insects

Origin: ModL < L, lead weights < Gr haltēr, weight held (to give impetus) in leaping < hallesthai, to leap < IE base *sel- > L salire

See halter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A device made of rope or leather straps that fits around the head or neck of an animal and is used to lead or secure the animal.
a. A rope with a noose used for execution by hanging.
b. Death or execution by hanging.
A halter-top.

transitive verb hal·tered, hal·ter·ing, hal·ters