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Bridle
Definitions
- 1 The headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins.
"[…] the horseman, who is the user of bridles and knows their use"
- 2 the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess wordnet
- 3 A restraint; a curb; a check. figuratively
"Let wisdom put a bridle on them before they are grown head-strong and unruly"
- 4 headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control wordnet
- 5 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.
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- 6 A mooring hawser.
- 7 A piece in the interior of a gunlock which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.
- 8 A gesture expressing pride or vanity.
- 1 To put a bridle on. transitive
"He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist."
- 2 respond to the reins, as of horses wordnet
- 3 To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as in bridle your tongue. transitive
"Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation."
- 4 put a bridle on wordnet
- 5 To show hostility or resentment. intransitive
"Immigrant-rights and religious organizations bridled at the plan to favor highly skilled workers over relatives. (Houston Chronicle, 6/8/2007)"
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- 6 anger or take offense wordnet
- 7 To hold up one's head proudly or affectedly. intransitive
Etymology
From Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel, from Proto-West Germanic *brigdil, from Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz (“strap, rein”), equivalent to braid + -le.
From Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel, from Proto-West Germanic *brigdil, from Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz (“strap, rein”), equivalent to braid + -le.
See also for "bridle"
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