garnish

[gahr-nish] /ˈgɑr nɪʃ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate.
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.
  2. to summon in, so as to take part in litigation already pending between others.
noun
4.
something placed around or on a food or in a beverage to add flavor, decorative color, etc.
5.
adornment or decoration.
6.
Chiefly British. a fee formerly demanded of a new convict or worker by the warden, boss, or fellow prisoners or workers.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English garnishen < Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir to furnish < Gmc); cf. warn
Related forms
garnishable, adjective
garnisher, noun
overgarnish, verb (used with object)
regarnish, verb (used with object)
undergarnish, verb (used with object)
ungarnished, adjective
well-garnished, adjective
Synonyms
1. embellish, ornament, beautify, trim, bedeck, bedizen, set off, enhance. 5. ornament; garniture.
Examples from the web for garnish
  • garnish with finely diced vegetables and a sprig of the cilantro.
  • If the caviar is there and the garnish is all a crasher has an eye for, then there is that too.
  • Squeeze lime to taste and garnish with coriander leaves.
  • Immediately before serving, add fresh berries to garnish.
  • Texture a bit rough for eating, but fun garnish for cold drinks and berried desserts.
  • Sauerkraut is a tasty and nutritious addition to the bratwurst boiling mixture and is festive as a garnish.
  • Empty the contents into the pie plate, reserving one tablespoon for garnish.
  • Cut the smoked eel filet in long, thin bands and use as a garnish.
  • If you have an herb garden, fresh oregano makes a great garnish.
  • Press eggs through a fine strainer to make a pretty garnish for spinach salad.
British Dictionary definitions for garnish

garnish

/ˈɡɑːnɪʃ/
verb (transitive)
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
5.
a decoration; trimming
6.
something, such as parsley, added to a dish for its flavour or decorative effect
7.
(obsolete, slang) a payment illegally extorted, as from a prisoner by his jailer
Derived Forms
garnisher, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French garnir to adorn, equip, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German warnōn to pay heed
Word Origin and History for garnish
v.

late 14c., from Old French garniss-, present participle stem of garnir "provide, furnish; fortify, reinforce," from a Germanic stem related to Proto-Germanic *warnejan "be cautious, guard, provide for" (cf. Old High German warnon "to take heed," Old English warnian "to take warning, beware;" see warn). Sense evolution is from "arm oneself" to "fit out" to "embellish," which was the earliest meaning in English, though the others also were used in Middle English. Culinary sense of "to decorate a dish for the table" predominated after c.1700. Older meaning survives in legal sense of "warning of attachment of funds" (1570s). Related: Garnished; garnishing.

n.

late 14c., "set of tableware" (probably a dozen; usually pewter), from garnish (v.). Sense of "embellishments to food" is from 1670s.

garnish in the Bible

overlay with stones (2 Chr. 3:6), adorn (Rev. 21:19), deck with garlands (Matt. 23:29), furnish (12:44). In Job 26:13 (Heb. shiphrah, meaning "brightness"), "By his spirit the heavens are brightness" i.e., are bright, splendid, beautiful.

Encyclopedia Article for garnish

an embellishment added to a food to enhance its appearance or taste. Simple garnishes such as chopped herbs, decoratively cut lemons, parsley and watercress sprigs, browned breadcrumbs, sieved hardcooked eggs, and broiled tomatoes are appropriate to a wide variety of foods; their purpose is to provide contrast in colour, texture, and taste, and to give a finished appearance to the dish

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