bridle

/ˈbraɪdl/

/ˈbraɪdəl/

Other forms: bridles; bridled; bridling

When you're riding a horse and scream "Whoa!" to make it stop, you're pulling on the reins, which are attached to a thing called the bridle, the buckled straps around a horse's head that help you control its movements.

The word bridle comes from the Old English bridel meaning "rein, curb, restraint," which is precisely what the purpose of a bridle is — to help restrain a horse's movements when necessary. You can bridle a horse, which is the act of putting a bridle on it. If you yank too hard on the reins, your horse might bridle, or take offense to your aggressiveness, just like you might bridle if someone insulted you.

Definitions of bridle

1. noun

   headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
   type of:

   headgear

   stable gear consisting of any part of a harness that fits about the horse's head
2. noun

   the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
   “his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper”

   synonyms: check, curb

   type of:

   restraint

   the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
3. verb

   put a bridle on
   “bridle horses”

   antonyms:

   unbridle

   remove the bridle from (a horse or mule)

   types:

   snaffle

   fit or restrain with a snaffle

   type of:

   constrain, cumber, encumber, restrain

   hold back
4. verb

   respond to the reins, as of horses
   type of:

   answer, reply, respond

   react verbally
5. verb

   anger or take offense
   “She bridled at his suggestion to elope”

   type of:

   anger, see red

   become angry