Garland Meaning
/ˈɡɑː.lənd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA circular or linear decoration, especially one of plaited flowers or leaves, worn on the body or draped as a decoration.
nounAn accolade or mark of honour.
Sentence Examples
The women put a garland round her neck.
The Hypermarket off Garland and 635 closed down years ago.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed a colorful ____ of fresh flowers on her head.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The winning athlete was presented with a beautiful ____ of flowers as a symbol of her great victory.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English garland, garlaunde, gerland, from Old French garlande, garlaunde, gerlande, guerlande (compare French guirlande), from Frankish *wierlōn, *wieralōn, a frequentative form of Frankish *wierōn (“to adorn, bedeck”), from *wiera (“a gold thread”), from or related to Proto-Germanic *wīraz. Akin to Old High German wieren (“to adorn”), Old High German wiara (“gold thread”). More at wire.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Bestow a Garland only on a Bier"
— 1717, Alexander Pope, The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], →OCLC:
"Both brides and grooms in native Hawaiian tradition wear flower garlands as a physical manifestation of their love for one another, and to some, the twining of the stems is reflective of two families now becoming one. A more tourist-friendly version established in the past couple of decades involves winding the leis around the couple’s hands to bind them together."
— 2013 August 30, Kat Kinsman, “Something borrowed: Wedding traditions from around the world”, in CNN:
"[She] ioyfully receyued and welcommed mee, as the onely type and garland of her noble ſtirpe and linage, […]"
— 1569, Richard Grafton, “Henry the Seuenth”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume II, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 911:
"They [ballads] began to be collected into little miscellanies under the name of garlands."
— 1765, Thomas Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry:
"And call him noble that was now your hate, / Him vile that was your garland."
— c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed a colorful ____ of fresh flowers on her head.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The winning athlete was presented with a beautiful ____ of flowers as a symbol of her great victory.