bridle

American  

[brahyd-l] / ˈbraɪd l /

noun

bridles plural

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.

   Synonyms:

   check, governor

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

4. 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.

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

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verb (used with object)

bridles, present (3rd person singular) bridled, past participle, past bridling present participle

1. to put a bridle on.

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

   Synonyms:

   limit, restrict, inhibit, constrain, govern, check

verb (used without object)

bridles, present (3rd person singular) bridled, past participle, past bridling present participle

1. to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.

   Synonyms:

   bristle

bridle British  

/ 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

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

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

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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

3. (tr) to restrain; curb

   he bridled his rage

4. to show anger, scorn, or indignation

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bridler
  noun
• bridleless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bridles
  plural

Participles

• bridling
  present
• bridled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bridle
  simple
• bridles
  simple
• have bridled
  perfect
• has bridled
  perfect
• am bridling
  progressive
• are bridling
  progressive
• is bridling
  progressive
• have been bridling
  perfect progressive
• has been bridling
  perfect progressive

Past

• bridled
  simple
• had bridled
  perfect
• was bridling
  progressive
• were bridling
  progressive
• had been bridling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bridle
  simple
• will have bridled
  perfect
• will be bridling
  progressive
• will have been bridling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bridle

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

Explanation

When you're riding a horse and scream "Whoa!" to make it stop, you're pulling on the reins, which are attached to a thing called the bridle, the buckled straps around a horse's head that help you control its movements. The word bridle comes from the Old English bridel meaning "rein, curb, restraint," which is precisely what the purpose of a bridle is — to help restrain a horse's movements when necessary. You can bridle a horse, which is the act of putting a bridle on it. If you yank too hard on the reins, your horse might bridle, or take offense to your aggressiveness, just like you might bridle if someone insulted you.

Example Sentences

It includes more than 800 items, including two cauldrons or vessels, horse harness, bridle bits, ceremonial spears and 28 iron tyres, believed to have been buried about 2,000 years ago.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2025

One of his greatest assets is at the half-mile pole you could tell from the tenor in his voice if he spotted a horse that was up in the bridle had a big chance.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2025

His eyes are full of tears as he holds the little riding crop in one hand and the bridle in the other.

From Slate • Nov. 30, 2023

But nations including South Africa and Colombia bridle at what they see as an implicit choice.

From Washington Post • Apr. 29, 2023

It concairned a hand and arm, in samite, with a bridle and a candle in its gripe.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White