Garnish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Garnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Garnishing.]
Etymology: [OE. garnischen, garnissen, OF. garnir to provide, strengthen, prepare, garnish, warn, F. garnir to provide, furnish, garnish, -- of German origin; cf. OHG. warnon to provide, equip; akin to G. wahren to watch, E. aware, ware, wary, and cf. also E. warn. See Wary, -ish, and cf. Garment, Garrison.]
1. To decorate with ornamental appendages; to set off; to adorn; to embellish. All within with flowers was garnished. Spenser.
2. (Cookery)
To ornament, as a dish, with something laid about it; as, a dish garnished with parsley.
3. To furnish; to supply.
3 more senses
4. To fit with fetters. [Cant] Johnson.
5. (Law)
To warn by garnishment; to give notice to; to garnishee. See Garnishee, v. t. Cowell.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Garnish, n.
1. Something added for embellishment; decoration; ornament; also, dress; garments, especially such as are showy or decorated. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. Shak. Matter and figure they produce; For garnish this, and that for use. Prior.
2. (Cookery)
Something set round or upon a dish as an embellishment. See Garnish, v. t., 2. Smart.
3. Fetters. [Cant]
4. A fee; specifically, in English jails, formerly an unauthorized fee demanded by the old prisoners of a newcomer. [Cant] Fielding. Garnish bolt (Carp.), a bolt with a chamfered or faceted head. Knight.