Bridle
Bridle ({not transcribed}) , noun
[Old English bridel, Anglo-Saxon bridel; akin to Old High German britil, brittil, Dutch breidel, and possibly to English braid. Compare Bridoon.]
1.
The head gear with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a headstall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages.
2.
A restraint; a curb; a check. — I. Watts
3.
(Gunnery) The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.
4.
(a) (Nautical) A span of rope, line, or chain made fast as both ends, so that another rope, line, or chain may be attached to its middle.
(b)
(Nautical) A mooring hawser.
Collocations (10)
Bowline bridle , See under Bowline.
Branches of a bridle , See under Branch.
Bridle cable (Nautical) , a cable which is bent to a bridle. See 4, above.
Bridle hand , the hand which holds the bridle in riding; the left hand.
Bridle path or Bridle way , a path or way for saddle horses and pack horses, as distinguished from a road for vehicles.
Bridle port (Nautical) , a porthole or opening in the bow through which hawsers, mooring or bridle cables, etc., are passed.
Bridle rein , a rein attached to the bit.
Bridle road , (a) Same as Bridle path. — Lowell (b) A road in a pleasure park reserved for horseback exercise.
Bridle track , a bridle path.
Scolding bridle , See Branks, 2.
Bridle ({not transcribed}) , transitive verb
1.
To put a bridle upon; to equip with a bridle; as, to bridle a horse.
He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist.
2.
To restrain, guide, or govern, with, or as with, a bridle; to check, curb, or control; as, to bridle the passions; to bridle a muse. — Addison
Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation.
Bridle , intransitive verb
To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of pride, scorn, or resentment; to assume a lofty manner; -- usually with up.
His bridling neck.
By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as Jenny Distaff, but Mrs. Tranquillus.