garnish

 
Pronunciation: /ˈgɑːnɪʃ/

verb

[with object]
  • 1decorate or embellish (something, especially food): garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream
  • 2 Law serve notice on (a third party) for the purpose of legally seizing money belonging to a debtor or defendant.
  • seize (money, especially part of a person’s salary) to settle a debt or claim: the IRS garnished his earnings

noun

  • a small amount of food used to decorate other food: reserve a few watercress leaves for a garnish [mass noun]: some flowers are edible and make attractive salad garnish

Derivatives

garnishment

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'equip, arm'): from Old French garnir, probably of Germanic origin and related to warn. garnish (sense 1 of the verb) dates from the late 17th century