Bridle
part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins.
anything that restrains or curbs:
His common sense is a bridle to his quick temper.
Machinery. a link, flange, or other attachment for limiting the movement of any part of a machine.
Nautical. 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.
a raising up of the head, as in disdain.
to put a bridle on.
to control or hold back; restrain; curb.
to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.
Contemporary Examples
Twitterature Isabel Wilkinson March 31, 2009
The West Bank Through Chinese Eyes Bernard Avishai March 18, 2012
Twitterature Isabel Wilkinson March 31, 2009
Historical Examples
Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys A. Neely Hall
The White Company Arthur Conan Doyle
The Pioneers Katharine Susannah Prichard
Thoroughbreds W. A. Fraser
The Lions of the Lord Harry Leon Wilson
Thoroughbreds W. A. Fraser
The Red Moccasins Morrison Heady
noun
a headgear for a horse, etc, consisting of a series of buckled straps and a metal mouthpiece (bit) by which the animal is controlled through the reins
something that curbs or restrains; check
a Y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc
(machinery) a device by which the motion of a component is limited, often in the form of a linkage or flange
verb
(transitive) to put a bridle on (a horse, mule, etc)
(intransitive) (of a horse) to respond correctly to the pull of the reins
(transitive) to restrain; curb: he bridled his rage
(intransitive) often foll by at. to show anger, scorn, or indignation
n.
v.
Read Also:
- Bridle-hand
(of a horseback rider) the hand, usually the left hand, that holds both reins or both pairs of reins, leaving the other hand free to manage a whip, crop, lariat, or the like. Historical Examples Riding for Ladies W. A. Kerr The Young Lady’s Equestrian Manual Anonymous The Jacket (The Star-Rover) Jack London What Will […]
- Bridle-joint
a heading joint in which the end of one member, notched to form two parallel tenons, is fitted into two gains cut into the edges of a second member.
- Bridle-path
a wide path for riding horses. Historical Examples His “Day In Court” Charles Egbert Craddock (AKA Mary Noailles Murfree) The Crime Club William Holt-White The Girls of Central High on Track and Field David Goodger ([email protected]) Some Persons Unknown E. W. Hornung The City of Delight Elizabeth Miller Renshaw Fanning’s Quest Bertram Mitford The Girl […]
- Bridle-suture
bridle suture
- Bridlewise
(of a horse) obedient to a touch of the reins on the neck, without pressure of the bit on the mouth. Historical Examples Skyrider B. M. Bower adjective (US) (of a horse) obedient to the pressure of the reins on the neck rather than to the bit