Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Garter \Gar"ter\, n. [OE. gartier, F. jarreti[`e]re, fr. OF.
   garet bend of the knee, F. jarret; akin to Sp. garra claw,
   Prov. garra leg. See {Garrote}.]
   1. A band used to prevent a stocking from slipping down on
      the leg.

   2. The distinguishing badge of the highest order of
      knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the
      Garter, instituted by Edward III.; also, the Order itself.

   3. (Her.) Same as {Bendlet}.

   {Garter fish} (Zo["o]l.), a fish of the genus {Lepidopus},
      having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the
      scabbard fish.

   {Garter king-at-arms}, the chief of the official heralds of
      England, king-at-arms to the Order of the Garter; -- often
      abbreviated to {Garter}.

   {Garter snake} (Zo["o]l.), one of several harmless American
      snakes of the genus {Eut[ae]nia}, of several species (esp.
      {E. saurita} and {E. sirtalis}); one of the striped
      snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of
      color.