Bridle word meaning and definition

[noun] the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper"
[noun] headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
[verb] respond to the reins, as of horses
[verb] put a bridle on; "bridle horses"

\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.

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