garrote

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A method of execution formerly practiced in Spain, in which a tightened iron collar is used to strangle or break the neck of a condemned person.
2. n. The iron collar used for such an execution.
3. n. Strangulation, especially in order to rob.
4. n. A cord or wire used for strangling.
5. v. To execute by garrote.
6. v. To strangle in order to rob.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A mode of capital punishment practised in Spain and Portugal, formerly by simple strangulation. The victim is placed on a stool with a post or stake behind to which is affixed an iron collar controlled by a screw passing through the post; this collar is made to clasp the neck of the victim and is tightened by the action of the screw. As the instrument is now operated, the point of the screw is caused to protrude and pierce the spinal marrow at its junction with the brain, thus causing death.
2. n. The instrument by means of which this punishment is inflicted.
3. n. Strangulation by any means used in imitation of the garrote, and especially as a means of robbery. See garroting.
4. To put to death by means of the garrote.—2. To strangle so as to render insensible or helpless, generally for the purpose of robbery. See garroting.
5. To cheat in card-playing by concealing certain cards at the back of the neck: a mode of cheating practised among card-sharpers.

Wiktionary

1. n. an iron collar formerly used in Spain to execute people by strangulation
2. n. something, especially a cord or wire, used for strangulation
3. v. transitive to execute by strangulation
4. v. transitive to kill using a garrote

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A Spanish mode of execution by strangulation, with an iron collar affixed to a post and tightened by a screw until life become extinct.
2. n. The instrument by means of which the garrote{1} is inflicted.
3. n. A short length of rope or other instrument used to strangle a person.
4. v. To strangle with the garrote; hence, to seize by the throat, from behind, with a view to strangle and rob.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an instrument of execution for execution by strangulation
2. v. strangle with an iron collar