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Where does the word "garter" come from? It comes from Gaulish garet, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "garter" come from? It comes from Gaulish garet, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Garter’s story begins in Gaulish: garet meant “bend of the knee.” A Celtic word, related to Welsh 'gar', leg. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gartier. A band worn below the knee. It reached English by 1300s as garter. The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348. Today, garter means a band to hold up a stocking.
- Stage 1 · Gaulish · ancient garet "bend of the knee", a Celtic word, related to Welsh 'gar', leg.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gartier "garter", a band worn below the knee.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s garter "leg band", the Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348.