n. 1. Any of a wide variety of seals or packings used between matched machine parts or around pipe joints to prevent the escape of a gas or fluid. 2. Nautical A cord or canvas strap used to secure a furled sail to a yard, boom, or gaff. [Perhaps alteration of French garcette, small cord, diminutive of garce, girl, from Old French, feminine of gars, boy, soldier; see GARçON.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.