The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Halter \Hal"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Haltered (-t[~e]rd); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Haltering.]
   To tie by the neck with a rope, strap, or halter; to put a
   halter on; to subject to a hangman's halter. "A haltered
   neck." --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Halter \Halt"er\ (-[~e]r), n.
   One who halts or limps; a cripple.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Halter \Hal"ter\ (h[add]l"t[~e]r), n. [OE. halter, helter,
   helfter, AS. h[ae]lftre; akin to G. halfter, D. halfter,
   halster, and also to E. helve. See Helve.]
   A strong strap or cord. Especially:
   (a) A rope or strap, with or without a headstall, for leading
       or tying a horse.
   (b) A rope for hanging malefactors; a noose. --Shak.
       [1913 Webster]

             No man e'er felt the halter draw
             With good opinion of the law.        --Trumbull.
       [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

halter
    n 1: rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for
         leading [syn: halter, hackamore]
    2: a rope that is used by a hangman to execute persons who have
       been condemned to death by hanging [syn: hangman's rope,
       hangman's halter, halter, hemp, hempen necktie]
    3: a woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving
       the back and arms uncovered
    4: either of the rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects;
       used for maintaining equilibrium during flight [syn:
       halter, haltere, balancer]
    v 1: hang with a halter
    2: prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in
       his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation
       wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small
       countries" [syn: hamper, halter, cramp, strangle]