garrot (2)

[GARROTE.] Surg.: A tourniquet formed of a band and a stick, the former being twisted by the revolution of the latter. gar-rote, gar-rotte, s . [ Sp.garrote =a cudgel.; a strangling by means of an iron collar; from garra a claw; cogn. with Wel. and Corn. gar the shank of the leg; Ir. car a =the leg; Breton gar , garre ; Port. garrote ; Fr. garrot.] 1. A Spanish instrument of execution. The victim, usually in a sitting posture, is fastened by an iron collar to an upright post, and a knob operated by a screw or lever dislocates the spinal column, or a small blade severs the spinal cord at the base of the brain. 2. The act or mode of punishing described in 1. 3. A robbery by means of garroting. gar-rote, gar-rot te, v. t. [GARROTE, s.] [Fr. garrotter.] 1. To strangle by means of a garrote. 2. To rob by compre ing the throat until the victim becomes insensible. Garroting was usually carried out by three men-the forestall , or look-out in front, the backstall , or look-out behind, and the ugly man , or nasty man , the actual perpetrator. 3. To cheat at cards by concealing one or more cards at the back of the neck.