online medical dictionary | definition of garland

1. The crown of a king.

2. A wreath of chaplet made of branches, flowers, or feathers, and sometimes of precious stones, to be worn on the head like a crown; a coronal; a wreath.

3. The top; the thing most prized.

4. A book of extracts in prose or poetry; an anthology. "They [ballads] began to be collected into little miscellanies under the name of garlands." (Percy)

5. A sort of netted bag used by sailors to keep provision in. A grommet or ring of rope lashed to a spar for convenience in handling.

Origin: OE. Garland, gerlond, OF. Garlande, F. Guirlande; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. Wiara, wiera, crown, pure gold, MHG. Wieren to adorn.

(01 Mar 1998)