halter

Etymology 1

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”).

noun

1. A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
2. A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
   […]No rogue e’er felt the halter draw, with a good opinion of the law, and perhaps my own detestation of the law arises from my having frequently broken it.[…]. 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad
3. A halter top.

verb

1. (transitive) To place a halter on.
   What do you mean, you didn't halter the horses when we stopped for the night?

Etymology 2

halt + -er

noun

1. One who halts or limps; a cripple.

Etymology 3

noun

1. Alternative form of haltere