bridle

[ brahyd-l ]

/ ˈbraɪd l /

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See synonyms for: bridle / bridled / bridling on Thesaurus.com

noun

part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins.

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

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

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.

a raising up of the head, as in disdain.

verb (used with object), bri·dled, bri·dling.

to put a bridle on.

to control or hold back; restrain; curb.

verb (used without object), bri·dled, bri·dling.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR bridle

2 governor.

2, 7 check.

7 govern, constrain, inhibit, restrict, limit.

8 bristle.

See synonyms for bridle on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of bridle

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 FROM bridle

bri·dle·less, adjectivebridler, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bridle

bridal, bridle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bridle in a sentence

I bridled, too, at the unsolicited advice she persisted in giving my friends.
Diane von Furstenberg: Becoming the Woman She Wanted to Be|Diane von Furstenberg|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still others bridled at my two suggested U.S. military actions.
Les Gelb Puts Russia in Its Place—and Critics in Theirs|Leslie H. Gelb|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When pressed by his vice president—a fellow named Bush—to invade Panama and arrest its corrupt dictator, Reagan bridled.
The New GOP Warmongers|Matt Latimer|March 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Newdegate was a hard-mouthed witness, but he-was saddled, bridled, and ridden to the winning-post.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh|George W. Foote

He bridled up at the word "illiterate," and repudiated the vile insinuation.
My New Curate|P.A. Sheehan
His horse, "all saddled and bridled," stood below in the street, awaiting him.
The Diamond Coterie|Lawrence L. Lynch
A great roan stallion, bridled but without a saddle, materialized.
A World Called Crimson|Darius John Granger
One of the men came out of a corral leading Beasley's saddled and bridled horse.
The Man of the Forest|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for bridle

bridle

/ (ˈbraɪdəl) /

noun

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

something that curbs or restrains; check

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

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

verb

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

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

(tr) to restrain; curbhe bridled his rage

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

Derived forms of bridle

bridler, noun

Word Origin for bridle

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

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

bridle

OTHER WORDS FOR bridle

Origin of bridle

OTHER WORDS FROM bridle

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bridle

Words related to bridle

How to use bridle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bridle

Derived forms of bridle

Word Origin for bridle