bridle

bridle
—bridleless, adj. —bridler, n.
/bruyd"l/, n., v., bridled, bridling.
n.
1. part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins.
2. anything that restrains or curbs: His common sense is a bridle to his quick temper.
3. Mach. a link, flange, or other attachment for limiting the movement of any part of a machine.
4. Naut. a rope or chain secured at both ends to an object to be held, lifted, or towed, and itself held or lifted by a rope or chain secured at its center.
5. a raising up of the head, as in disdain.
v.t.
6. to put a bridle on.
7. to control or hold back; restrain; curb.
v.i.
8. to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.
[bef. 900; ME bridel, OE bridel for brigdels, equiv. to brigd- (var. s. of bregdan to BRAID1) + -els n. suffix; akin to D breidel, OHG brittel]
Syn. 2. governor. 2, 7. check. 7. govern, constrain, inhibit, restrict, limit. 8. bristle.

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      headgear by which a horse or other burden-bearing or pulling animal is governed, consisting of bit, headstall, and reins. The bit is a horizontal metal bar placed in the animal's mouth and held in place by the headstall, a set of straps over and around the head. Component bits of bone and antler have been recovered from bridles in use in the Bronze Age, about 3000 BC.

      The reins, lines held in the hand of the rider or driver, are connected to either side of the bit so that a tug on either side turns the animal in that direction. The headstall sometimes includes blinkers—leather flaps that inhibit side vision to keep the animal from being frightened or distracted.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bridle — Bri dle, n. [OE. bridel, AS. bridel; akin to OHG. britil, brittil, D. breidel, and possibly to E. braid. Cf. {Bridoon}.] 1. The head gear with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a headstall, a bit, and reins, with other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bridle — Bri dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bridled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bridling}.] 1. To put a bridle upon; to equip with a bridle; as, to bridle a horse. [1913 Webster] He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist. Drake. [1913 Webster] 2. To restrain, guide,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bridle — [brīd′ l] n. [ME & OE bridel < bregdan, move quickly: see BRAID] 1. a head harness for guiding a horse: it consists of headstall, bit, and reins 2. anything resembling a horse s bridle 3. anything that controls or restrains 4. FRENUM 5 …   English World dictionary

  • bridle — [n] restraining device check, control, curb, deterrent, hackamore, halter, headstall, leash, rein, restraint, trammels; concept 497 bridle [v] check, hold back constrain, control, curb, govern, inhibit, keep in check, master, moderate, repress,… …   New thesaurus

  • bridle — ► NOUN ▪ the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached. ► VERB 1) put a bridle on. 2) bring under control. 3) show resentment or anger. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • Bridle — Bri dle, v. i. 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. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bridle — index bar (hinder), block, clog, constrain (imprison), constrain (restrain), contain ( …   Law dictionary

  • bridle — vb 1 check, curb, *restrain, inhibit Analogous words: repress, *suppress: *govern, rule: control, direct, manage (see CONDUCT) Antonyms: vent Contrasted words: *express …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Bridle — A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a horse. The bridle fits over a horse s head, and has the purpose of controlling the horse. It holds a bit in the horse s mouth. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, a bridle includes a… …   Wikipedia

  • bridle — {{11}}bridle (n.) O.E. bridel bridle, rein, curb, restraint, related to bregdan move quickly, from P.Gmc. *bregdilaz (see BRAID (Cf. braid) (v.)). {{12}}bridle (v.) to control, dominate, c.1200, from O.E. bridlian to fit with a bridle, from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Bridle —    Three Hebrew words are thus rendered in the Authorized Version.    1) Heb. mahsom signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle, by which the rider governs his horse (Ps. 39:1).    2) Me theg, rendered also bit in Ps. 32:9, which is its proper… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

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