n. [ OE. garland, gerlond, OF. garlande, F. guirlande; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. wiara, wiera, crown, pure gold, MHG. wieren to adorn. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
1. The crown of a king. [ Obs. ] Graffon. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. The top; the thing most prized. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. A book of extracts in prose or poetry; an anthology. [ 1913 Webster ]
They [ ballads ] began to be collected into little miscellanies under the name of garlands. Percy. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. (Naut.) (a) A sort of netted bag used by sailors to keep provision in. (b) A grommet or ring of rope lashed to a spar for convenience in handling. [ 1913 Webster ]