Adjacent Words

Bridle definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

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, v.t. To put on a bridle; as, to bridle a horse.
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, v.i. To hold up the head, and draw in the chin.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
2: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn: bridle, check, curb] v
1: anger or take offense; "She bridled at his suggestion to elope"
2: put a bridle on; "bridle horses" [ant: unbridle]
3: respond to the reins, as of horses

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English bridel, from Old English br?del; akin to Old English bregdan to move quickly — more at braid Date: before 12th century 1. the headgear with which a horse is governed and which carries a bit and reins 2. a length of line or cable attached to two parts of something to spread the force of a pull; especially rigging on a kite for attaching line 3. curb, restraint <set a bridle on his power> II. verb (bridled; bridling) Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to put a bridle on 2. to restrain, check, or control with or as if with a bridle <bridle your tongue> intransitive verb to show hostility or resentment (as to an affront to one's pride or dignity) especially by drawing back the head and chin Synonyms: see restrain

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled leather straps, a metal bit, and reins. b a restraining thing or influence (put a bridle on your tongue). 2 Naut. a mooring-cable. 3 Physiol. a ligament checking the motion of a part. --v. 1 tr. put a bridle on (a horse etc.). 2 tr. bring under control; curb. 3 intr. (often foll. by up) express offence, resentment, etc., esp. by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin. Phrases and idioms: bridle-path (or -road or -way) a rough path or road fit only for riders or walkers, not vehicles. Etymology: OE bridel

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. He 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 muse. --Addison. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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 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.

Webster's 1913 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. By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as Jenny Distaff, but Mrs. Tranquillus. --Tatler.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(bridles, bridling, bridled) 1. A bridle is a set of straps that is put around a horse's head and mouth so that the person riding or driving the horse can control it. N-COUNT 2. If you bridle, you show that you are angry or offended by moving your head and body upwards in a proud way. (LITERARY) She bridled, then simply shook her head... Alex bridled at the shortness of Pamela's tone. = bristle VERB: V, V at n

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 meaning. Found in 2 Kings 19:28, where the restraints of God's providence are metaphorically styled his "bridle" and "hook." God's placing a "bridle in the jaws of the people" (Isa. 30:28; 37:29) signifies his preventing the Assyrians from carrying out their purpose against Jerusalem.

(3.) Another word, _re'sen_, was employed to represent a halter or bridle-rein, as used Ps. 32:9; Isa. 30:28. In Job 30:11 the restraints of law and humanity are called a bridle.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bri'-d'-l.

See BIT AND BRIDLE.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Restraint, curb, check. II. v. a. 1. Put a bridle on, bit. 2. Restrain, check, curb, control, govern. 3. [Usually with up.] Ruffle, rustle, bristle, toss the head, be incensed, put on an air of offended dignity.

Moby Thesaurus

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