bridle

[ brahyd-l ]
See synonyms for bridle on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins.

  2. anything that restrains or curbs: His common sense is a bridle to his quick temper.

  1. Machinery. a link, flange, or other attachment for limiting the movement of any part of a machine.

  2. 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.

  3. a raising up of the head, as in disdain.

verb (used with object),bri·dled, bri·dling.
  1. to put a bridle on.

  2. to control or hold back; restrain; curb.

verb (used without object),bri·dled, bri·dling.
  1. to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.

Origin of bridle

1
before 900; Middle English bridel, Old English brīdel for brigdels, equivalent to brigd- (variant stem of bregdan to braid) + -els noun suffix; akin to Dutch breidel, Old High German brittel

Other words for bridle

Other words from bridle

  • bri·dle·less, adjective
  • bridler, noun

Words that may be confused with bridle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for bridle

bridle

/ (ˈbraɪdəl) /


noun
  1. 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

  2. something that curbs or restrains; check

  1. a Y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc

  2. machinery a device by which the motion of a component is limited, often in the form of a linkage or flange

verb
  1. (tr) to put a bridle on (a horse, mule, etc)

  2. (intr) (of a horse) to respond correctly to the pull of the reins

  1. (tr) to restrain; curb: he bridled his rage

  2. (intr often foll by at) to show anger, scorn, or indignation

Origin of bridle

1
Old English brigdels; related to bregdan to braid 1, Old High German brittil, Middle Low German breidel

Derived forms of bridle

  • bridler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012