A horse with bridle.
- The definition of a bridle is a device used to control an animal, such as the headgear used to control a horse.
The headgear used to control a horse is an example of a bridle.
- To bridle is to put headgear on a horse to control it, or to bring something under control.
- When you put headgear on a horse, this is an example of a time when you bridle the horse.
- When you control your anger, this is an example of a time when you bridle your anger.
- a head harness for guiding a horse: it consists of headstall, bit, and reins
- anything resembling a horse's bridle
- anything that controls or restrains
- a connecting metal strip for limiting motion in machinery
- Naut. a cable with the ends fast and another cable attached to it between the ends for applying force, as in towing a ship
Origin of bridleMiddle English and amp; Old English bridel ; from bregdan, move quickly: see braid
- to put a bridle on
- to curb or control with or as with a bridle
- to pull one's head back quickly with the chin drawn in as an expression of anger, scorn, pride, etc.
- to take offense (at)
- A harness, consisting of a headstall, bit, and reins, fitted about a horse's head and used to restrain or guide the animal.
- A curb or check: put a bridle on spending.
- Nautical A span of chain, wire, or rope that can be secured at both ends to an object and slung from its center point.
verbbri·dled, bri·dling, bri·dles
- To put a bridle on.
- To control or restrain: could not bridle his excitement at the news. See Synonyms at restrain.
- To lift the head and draw in the chin in anger or resentment.
- To be angry or resentful; take offense: bridling at the criticism.
Origin of bridleMiddle English bridel, from Old English br&imacron;del.
- The headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins.
- (figuratively) A restraint; a curb; a check.
- A length of line or cable attached to two parts of something to spread the force of a pull, as the rigging on a kite for attaching line.
- A mooring hawser.
- A piece in the interior of a gunlock which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.
(third-person singular simple present bridles, present participle bridling, simple past and past participle bridled)
From Old English brīdel, from Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz