BRIDGEY
Bridge"y, a.
Defn: Full of bridges. [R.] Sherwood.
BRIDLE Bri"dle, n. Etym: [OE. bridel, AS. bridel; akin to OHG. britil, brittil, D. breidel, and possibly to E. braid. Cf. Bridoon.]
1. The head gear with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a headstall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages.
2. A restraint; a curb; a check. I. Watts.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the timbler, sear, etc.
4. (Naut.)
(a) A span of rope, line, or chain made fast as both ends, so that
another rope, line, or chain may be attached to its middle.
(b) A mooring hawser. Bowline bridle. See under Bowline.
— Branches of a bridle. See under Branch.
— Bridle cable (Naut.), a cable which is bent to a bridle. See 4,
above.
— Bridle hand, the hand which holds the bridle in riding; the left
hand.
— Bridle path, Bridle way, a path or way for saddle horses and pack
horses, as distinguished from a road for vehicles.
— Bridle port (Naut.), a porthole or opening in the bow through
which hawsers, mooring or bridle cables, etc., are passed.
— Bridle rein, a rein attached to the bit.
— Bridle road. (a) Same as Bridle path. Lowell. (b) A road in a
pleasure park reserved for horseback exercise.
— Bridle track, a bridle path.
— Scolding bridle. See Branks, 2.
Syn.
— A check; restrain.
BRIDLE
Bri"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bridled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bridling.]