bridle Hear it!

bridle Definition

bri·dle (brīd'l)

noun

  1. a head harness for guiding a horse: it consists of headstall, bit, and reins
  2. anything resembling a horse's bridle
  3. anything that controls or restrains
  4. frenum
  5. a connecting metal strip for limiting motion in machinery
  6. Naut. a cable with the ends fast and another cable attached to it between the ends for applying force, as in towing a ship

Etymology: ME & OE bridel < bregdan, move quickly: see braid

transitive verb bri·dled, bri·dling

  1. to put a bridle on
  2. to curb or control with or as with a bridle

intransitive verb

  1. to pull one's head back quickly with the chin drawn in as an expression of anger, scorn, pride, etc.
  2. to take offense (at)

bridle Synonyms

bridle

n.

hackamore, headstall, leash, harness; see halter 1.

bridle Synonyms

bridle

v.

check, curb, control; see restrain 1. See syn. study at restrain.

bridle Usage Examples

Object

  • horse: But when eventually they came to bridle the horses, they found their hooves almost severed from their legs.

Preposition: on

  • horse: Us a bridle on the horse to line up the edge of the clip with the bridle cheek piece.

Preposition: at

  • suggestion: But she bridles at the suggestion that neither she, nor anyone else, can live with the Williams sisters.

Converse of object

  • draw: Sometimes he saw her cantering past; she always acknowledged his 2004 business business commerce e news salute, but never drew bridle.
  • put: Feeling very strange, I patiently stood while Ellen showed the little girl how to put a bridle on.
  • hold: The strap under a horses throat which holds the bridle in position.
  • have: We have had a bridle on her and she has been sat on.
  • loop: The young man looped the bridle over a low maple limb, and leaving the horse standing sauntered over to the bench.
  • take: I took advice bridle on, long rein and treat him when he went in ok.

Adjective modifier

  • bitless: The reins fell loosely against Pegasus's shoulders which led up to a bitless bridle.
  • double: Aims to combine the two bits of a double bridle into a single mouthpiece.

Modifies a noun

  • path: Where the bridle path bears left, a track carries straight on.
  • gate: Beyond the wood the path climbs very steeply to a bridle gate in the right hand corner of the field.
  • track: Proceed to a lane, turn left, then first right on a bridle track to Redwood.
  • way: They can play football on the football field or use bridle ways for mountain biking.
  • route: Swan's Way is a long distance bridle route running from Salcey Forest to Goring on the Thames.
  • road: By crossing over the locks you will be able to join the bridle road from Gumley in order to return to Foxton Village.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Do not bridle up the free spirit by the rules of method.

Noun used with modifier

  • leather: The brown leather bridle handles with stud details look perfect against the squashy structure of the bag.

Possessives

  • horse: No wonder blood will stand to the horses ' bridles from a distance of two hundred miles from Jerusalem.
bridle Quotes

Perspective is the bridle and rudder of painting.

—Leonardo daVinci

He turn'd him right and round about, Upon the Irish shore, And gae his bridle reins a shake, With, Adieu for evermore, my dear, And Adieu for evermore!

—Burns, Robert

Nought so of love this looser dame did skill, But as a coal to kindle fleshly flame, Giving the bridle to her wanton will, And treading underfoot her honest name.

—Spenser, Edmund

  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Browse dictionary entries near bridle

  1. Bridgman
  2. bridging
  3. bridgework
  4. Bridgetown
  5. Bridget
  6. Bridges
  7. Bridgeport
  8. bridgehead
  9. bridged tap
  10. bridgeboard
  1. bridle path
  2. bridle-wise
  3. bridoon
  4. brie
  5. brie (cheese)
  6. brief
  7. brief of title
  8. briefcase
  9. briefer
  10. briefing