garnish

[gahr-nish]

verb (used with object)

1. to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate.

   a free-standing wall whose lower reaches are garnished by hanging gardens.

   Synonyms: enhance, bedizen, bedeck, trim, beautify, ornament, embellish

2. to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc..

   to garnish boiled potatoes with chopped parsley.

3. Law.

   1. to attach (as money due or property belonging to a debtor) by garnishment; garnishee.

      The court garnished his wages when he refused to pay child support.

   2. to summon in, so as to take part in litigation already pending between others.

noun

1. something placed around or on a food or in a beverage to add flavor, decorative color, etc.

2. adornment or decoration.

   Synonyms: garniture, ornament

3. Chiefly British.,  a fee formerly demanded of a new convict or worker by the warden, boss, or fellow prisoners or workers.

garnish

/ ˈɡɑːnɪʃ /

verb

1. to decorate; trim

2. to add something to (food) in order to improve its appearance or flavour

3. law

   1. to serve with notice of proceedings; warn

   2. obsolete,  to summon to proceedings already in progress

   3. to attach (a debt)

4. slang,  to extort money from

noun

1. a decoration; trimming

2. something, such as parsley, added to a dish for its flavour or decorative effect

3. obsolete,  a payment illegally extorted, as from a prisoner by his jailer

Other Word Forms

• garnisher noun
• garnishable adjective
• overgarnish verb (used with object)
• regarnish verb (used with object)
• undergarnish verb (used with object)
• ungarnished adjective
• well-garnished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garnish¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English garnishen, from Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir “to furnish,” from Germanic ); warn

Word History and Origins

Origin of garnish¹

C14: from Old French garnir to adorn, equip, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German warnōn to pay heed

Example Sentences

If you’re feeling spicy, try leveling some lemon peels with jalapeños and sugar along with adding a jalapeño garnish and a Tajin rim around the glass.

From Salon

Finally, they came into land, days of diplomacy garnished with absurdity.

From BBC

Additionally, chiffonade radish greens are a great garnish on top of baked fish or grilled chicken, LaMarita said.

From Salon

Use it as a pasta base, topped with crunchy garnishes and a concentrated reduction.

From Salon

In truth, American might garnished with Trumpian brute force has hurried along these negotiations and this is far from the deal some talked about during President Trump's first term.

From BBC