bridle

[brahyd-l] /ˈbraɪd l/
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.
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.
verb (used with object), bridled, bridling.
6.
to put a bridle on.
7.
to control or hold back; restrain; curb.
verb (used without object), bridled, bridling.
8.
to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.
Origin
before 900; Middle English bridel, Old English brīdel for brigdels, equivalent to brigd- (variant stem of bregdan to braid1) + -els noun suffix; akin to Dutch breidel, Old High German brittel
Related forms
bridleless, adjective
bridler, noun
Can be confused
bridal, bridle.
Synonyms
2. governor. 2, 7. check. 7. govern, constrain, inhibit, restrict, limit. 8. bristle.
Examples from the web for bridle
  • As soon as he came up, he leapt from his horse, and caught hold of hers by the bridle.
  • Canadians sometimes bridle at their reputation for being a bit dull.
  • While it's nicely appointed, you've got to bridle at a couple things.
  • Some may bridle at the apocalyptic scenarios he raises but these often serve a legitimate purpose.
  • It lacked the precise control of other models, and the bridle system used to attach the kite to the lines was overly complicated.
  • But its elders do not bridle at the suggestion that violent groups find recruits among its followers.
  • We should all welcome the new attempts to bridle the beast.
  • Too many times does he bridle at reflections upon his talent.
  • Jura winemakers tend to bridle at the comparison with sherry.
  • And so he took the king's horse by the bridle and led him away in a manner perforce.
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
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
verb
5.
(transitive) to put a bridle on (a horse, mule, etc)
6.
(intransitive) (of a horse) to respond correctly to the pull of the reins
7.
(transitive) to restrain; curb: he bridled his rage
8.
(intransitive) often foll by at. to show anger, scorn, or indignation
Derived Forms
bridler, noun
Word Origin
Old English brigdels; related to bregdan to braid1, Old High German brittil, Middle Low German breidel
Word Origin and History for bridle
n.

Old English bridel "bridle, rein, curb, restraint," related to bregdan "move quickly," from Proto-Germanic *bregdilaz (see braid (v.)).

v.

"to control, dominate," c.1200, from Old English bridlian "to fit with a bridle," from bridel (see bridle (n.)). Meaning "to throw up the head" (as a horse does when reined in) is from mid-15c. Related: Bridled; bridling.

bridle in the Bible

Three Hebrew words are thus rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Heb. _mahsom'_ signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle, by which the rider governs his horse (Ps.39:1). (2.) _Me'theg_, rendered also "bit" in Ps. 32:9, which is its proper meaning. Found in 2 Kings 19:28, where the restraints of God's providence are metaphorically styled his "bridle" and "hook." God's placing a "bridle in the jaws of the people" (Isa. 30:28; 37:29) signifies his preventing the Assyrians from carrying out their purpose against Jerusalem. (3.) Another word, _re'sen_, was employed to represent a halter or bridle-rein, as used Ps. 32:9; Isa. 30:28. In Job 30:11 the restraints of law and humanity are called a bridle.