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