n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A restraint; a curb; a check. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gun.) The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- A check; restrain. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bridled p. pr. & vb. n. Bridling ] 1. To put a bridle upon; to equip with a bridle; as, to bridle a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist. Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To restrain, guide, or govern, with, or as with, a bridle; to check, curb, or control; as, to bridle the passions; to bridle a muse. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To check; restrain; curb; govern; control; repress; master; subdue. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of pride, scorn, or resentment; to assume a lofty manner; -- usually with up. “His bridling neck.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as Jenny Distaff, but Mrs. Tranquillus. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Arch.) A strong flat bar of iron, so bent as to support, as in a stirrup, one end of a floor timber, etc., where no sufficient bearing can be had; -- called also stirrup and hanger. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a bridle. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + bridle. ] To free from the bridle; to set loose. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. un- not + bridled. ] Loosed from the bridle, or as from the bridle; hence, unrestrained; licentious; violent; as, unbridled passions. “Unbridled boldness.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lands deluged by unbridled floods. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*bri"dled*ness, n. Abp. Leighton. [1913 Webster]