Definition

The act of strangling someone, often using a cord or wire, until they lose consciousness or die.

Example

The detective investigated a case involving garroting in the dark alley.

Conversation

Did you hear about that old crime documentary on TV last night?

Yeah, they talked about some really shocking methods, like garroting.

I can't believe people used to do that!

Right? It’s hard to imagine how brutal things were back then.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Garroting comes from the Spanish word 'garrote', which means a stick or a club used for strangling. The term is derived from the verb 'garrotar', meaning to strangle or throttle. The word 'garrote' itself is believed to have roots in the Latin 'carrus', meaning cart, possibly referring to the method of execution involving a cart. Thus, garroting refers to the act of strangling someone, often with a cord or wire.

Memory Tip

Imagine a stick ('garrote') used to 'strangle' ('garrotar') someone — that's how you can remember that garroting means to strangle.

Visually Confused Words