# garter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡɑːtə/ · frequency rank #30,056

## Definitions
1. A band worn around the leg to hold up a sock or stocking.
2. A bendlet.
3. An elastic band encircling any article of clothing.
4. One of a set of tapes stretched out horizontally for acrobats and equestrians to leap over as part of a circus act or display of skill.

## Etymology
From Middle English garter, from Old Northern French gartier, from Old French garet (compare Old French jartier, from jaret), from Gaulish *garrā, from Proto-Celtic *garros (“calf, shank”) (compare Cornish gar, Cornish gar,Middle Welsh garr, Old Irish gairr). Cognate with French jarretière.

## Easily confused with
- **gates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gates)
- **garth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-garth)
- **gated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gated)
- **gator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gator)
- **gather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gather)
- **gutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gutter)
- **Garvey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-garvey)
- **Gerber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gerber)
- **gawker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gawker)
- **getter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-getter)
- **Gunter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gunter)
- **girder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-girder)
- **gare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gare-vs-garter)
- **gamer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gamer-vs-garter)
- **garden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garden-vs-garter)
- **garner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garner-vs-garter)
- **garnet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garnet-vs-garter)
- **garret** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garret-vs-garter)
- **gander** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gander-vs-garter)
- **gaffer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gaffer-vs-garter)

## Common misspellings (9)
`agrter`, `garetr`, `garrter`, `garterr`, `gartre`, `gartter`, `gatrer`, `ggarter`, `grater`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/garter