halter

Meaning

Noun

1. A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
2. A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
3. A halter top.

Verb

To place a halter on.

Synonyms

rope

🪢

bridle

haltere

headstall

hempen necktie

hangman’s rope

hamper

hangman’s halter

reins

hemp

balancer

cord

cramp

hackamore

harness

noose

slipknot

strangle

tether

headcollar

nightcap

encumber

prejudice

headgear

gibbet

rune

scaffold

disadvantage

band

tank top

halter top

thong

halterneck

gallows

headpiece

hinder

hobble

impede

line

Translations

cavezza

cabestro

capestro

Halfter

licou

καπίστρι

capistrum

cabestre

bozal

corpetto prendisole

Strick

accavezzare

imbrigliare

halften

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɔltɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: halter

Inherited from Old English: hælfter

Cognate with Scots: helter

Cognate with Dutch: halfter

Cognate with Low German: halfter

Cognate with German: Halfter

In summary

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”).