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.
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.
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.
