Garters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of elastic band or fabric strip worn around the leg to hold up stockings or socks
2. an accessory used in formal dress to support clothing items
3. a paired item often used in ceremonial contexts, symbolizing unity or binding

Etymology: The surprising thing about "garters" is that the band's name comes from a body part. Its root, a Gaulish word "garrā" meaning "calf" or "shank" (the lower leg), reached English through the Celtic languages, and the garter was named for the place it was worn, just below the knee. The word passed through Old French forms such as "garet" and "jartier" before arriving in Middle English as "garter." The French descendant "jarretière" survives today with the same sense, so the two languages still share the same picture of a band tied around the leg. "Garters" is simply the plural of "garter," so it refers to more than one such band.

Synonyms: straps, suspenders