If someone is garroted, they are killed by having something such as a piece of wire or cord pulled tightly around their neck.
The two guards had been garroted.
2. countable noun
A garrote is a piece of wire or cord used to garrote someone.
garrote in American English
(gəˈrɑt; gəˈroʊt)
noun
1.
a.
a method of execution, as formerly in Spain, with an iron collar tightened about the neck by a screw
b.
the iron collar so used
2.
a.
a cord, thong, or length of wire for strangling a robbery victim, enemy sentry, etc. in a surprise attack
b.
a disabling by strangling in this way; strangulation
verb transitiveWord forms: garˈroted or garˈrotted, garˈroting or garˈrotting
3.
to execute or attack with a garrote or by strangling
4.
to disable by strangling, as in an attack for robbery
Also sp. gaˈrotte, garˈrotte
Derived forms
garroter (garˈroter)
noun
Word origin
Sp, orig., a stick used to wind a cord, prob. < OFr garrot, crossbow bolt, for earlier guaroc < garokier, to garrote < Frank *wrokkan, to twist < IE *werĝh-, to twist, choke < base *wer-, to turn > worm, wrench