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Added 6 October 2026

halter

/ˈhɔltɚ/ noun

Categories: ThingsAnimalsRare Words

In Latin: capistrum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about halter at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for leading.
  2. A rope that is used by a hangman to execute persons who have been condemned to death by hanging.
  3. A woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving the back and arms uncovered.

verb

  1. Hang with a halter.
  2. Prevent the progress or free movement of.
    He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: hackamorehampercrampbalancerhalterewalterheadcollarreinleadheadgearharness

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