noun / verb

halter

HAWL-ter/ˈhɔːltər/

A harness fitted around an animal’s head for leading or tying it.

The horse wears a halter with a lead rope clipped beneath its jaw.

A calm horse shown in a clear three-quarter head-and-neck view wearing a plain strap halter, with a lead rope clipped to the ring beneath its jaw.

Etymology

halterOld Englishrope for leading a horse

Old English hælfter named a rope for leading a horse. Its relationship to helve, a tool handle, connects the harness with the broader idea of holding or controlling something.

In context

Libranima82:43

and leading him by the bridle and the ass by the halter he took the road for the village

Don Quixote - Cervantes (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 1 of 4

More examples

She clips a lead rope to the horse’s halter.
We halter the donkeys before leading them outside.
He haltered the pony and tied it to a post.

Forms

halter · halters · haltered · haltering

Similar words

bridle: Usually includes a bit and reins for controlling a horse.
harness: Broader term for straps fitted around an animal’s body.