Garnish

Origin

From Middle English garnischen, from Old French garniss-, stem of certain forms of the verb garnir, guarnir, warnir ("to provide, furnish, avert, defend, warn, fortify, garnish"), from a conflation of Old Frankish *warnjan ("to refuse, deny") and *warnōn ("warn, protect, prepare, beware, guard oneself"), from Proto-Germanic *warnijaną ("to worry, care, heed") and Proto-Germanic *warnōną ("to warn"); both from Proto-Indo-European *wer- ("to defend, protect, cover"). Cognate with Old English wiernan ("to withhold, be sparing of, deny, refuse, reject, decline, forbid, prevent from, avert") and warnian ("to warn, caution, take warning, take heed, guard oneself against, deny"). More at warn.

Full definition of garnish

Verb

1. To decorate with ornamental appendages; to set off; to adorn; to embellish.
• SpenserAll within with flowers was garnished.
2. (cooking) To ornament, as a dish, with something laid about it; as, a dish garnished with parsley.
3. To furnish; to supply.By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. (Job 26:13, KJV)
4. (slang, archaic) To fit with fetters.
5. (legal) To warn by garnishment; to give notice to; to garnishee.

Derived terms

• garnishee
• garnishment
• garnishor

Related terms

• garrison
• garment

Noun

1. A set of dishes, often pewter, containing a dozen pieces of several types.
2. Pewter vessels in general.
• 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, Volume 4, p. 478:The accounts of collegiate and monastic institutions give abundant entries of the price of pewter vessels, called also garnish.
3. Something added for embellishment; decoration; ornament; also, dress; garments, especially when showy or decorated.
• ShakespeareSo are you, sweet,
  Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.
• PriorMatter and figure they produce;
  For garnish this, and that for use.
4. (cookery) Something set round or upon a dish as an embellishment.
5. (slang, obsolete) Fetters.
6. (slang, historical) A fee; specifically, in English jails, formerly an unauthorized fee demanded from a newcomer by the older prisoners.

Anagrams

• sharing