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.
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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.
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3. (Her.) Same as Bendlet.
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Garter fish (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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.
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Snake \Snake\, n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel.
sn[=a]kr, sn?kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.]
(Zool.)
Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent,
whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.
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Note: Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the
larger number are harmless to man.
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Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake,
Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under
Blind, Garter, etc.
Fetich snake (Zool.), a large African snake (Python
Sebae) used by the natives as a fetich.
Ringed snake (Zool.), a common European columbrine snake
(Tropidonotus natrix).
Snake eater. (Zool.)
(a) The markhoor.
(b) The secretary bird.
Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.]
Snake fly (Zool.), any one of several species of
neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so
called because of their large head and elongated neck and
prothorax.
Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes
anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than
that of the serpent cucumber.
Snake killer. (Zool.)
(a) The secretary bird.
(b) The chaparral cock.
Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium
clavatum). See Lycopodium.
Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree
(Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which
resembles a snake coiled up.
Tree snake (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees,
especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied
genera.
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