Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bridle
Bri′dle
,Noun.
[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 appendages.
2.
A restraint; a curb; a check.
I. Watts.
3.
(Gun.)
The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.
4.
(Naut.)
(a)
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)
A mooring hawser.
Bowline bridle
. See under
– Bowline
. Branches of a bridle
. See under
– Branch
. Bridle cable
(Naut.)
, 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
, Bridle way
a path or way for saddle horses and pack horses, as distinguished from a road for vehicles.
– Bridle port
(Naut.)
, 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.
Syn. – A check; restrain.
Bri′dle
,Verb.
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 horseHe
bridled
her mouth with a silkweed twist. Drake.
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 museAddison.
Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to
bridle
Switzerland, are in that consolidation. Burke.
Syn. – To check; restrain; curb; govern; control; repress; master; subdue.
Bri′dle
,Verb.
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.
By her
bridling
up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as Jenny Distaff, but Mrs. Tranquillus. Tatler.
Webster 1828 Edition
Bridle
BRI'DLE
, n.1.
The instrument with which a horse is governed and restrained by a rider; consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages, according to its particular form and uses.2.
A restraint; a curb; a check.3.
A short piece of cable well served, attached to a swivel on a chain, laid in a harbor, and the upper end drawn into a ship and secured to the bits. The use is to enable a ship, when moored, to veer with the wind and tide.Bowline bridles are short legs or pieces of rope, running through iron thimbles,by which the bowline attaches to different places on the leech or edge of a large sail
BRI'DLE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To restrain, guide or govern; to check, curb or control; as, to bridle the passions; 'to bridle a muse.'Bridle the excursions of youth.
BRI'DLE
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
bridle
bridle
English
a horse with a bridle
Noun
bridle (plural bridles)
- The headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins.
- 1961, J. A. Philip, "Mimesis in the Sophistês," Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philological Association 92, p. 457:
- […] the horseman, who is the user of bridles and knows their use
- 1961, J. A. Philip, "Mimesis in the Sophistês," Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philological Association 92, p. 457:
- (figuratively) A restraint; a curb; a check.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of I. Watts to this entry?)
- A length of line or cable attached to two parts of something to spread the force of a pull, as the rigging on a kite for attaching line.
- A mooring hawser.
- A piece in the interior of a gunlock which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.
Derived terms
Translations
headgear for horse
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Verb
bridle (third-person singular simple present bridles, present participle bridling, simple past and past participle bridled)
- (transitive) To put a bridle on.
- Drake
- He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist.
- Drake
- (transitive) To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as in bridle your tongue.
- Burke
- Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation.
- Burke
- (intransitive) To show hostility or resentment.
- Immigrant-rights and religious organizations bridled at the plan to favor highly skilled workers over relatives. (Houston Chronicle, 6/8/2007)
Derived terms
Translations
to put a bridle on.
to check, restrain
to show hostility