Part 818

Bridge"less, a. Having no bridge; not bridged.

Bridge"pot` (&?;), n. (Mining) The adjustable socket, or step, of a millstone spindle. Knight.

Bridge"tree` (&?;), n. [Bridge + tree a beam.] (Mining) The beam which supports the spindle socket of the runner in a grinding mill. Knight.

Bridge"-ward` (&?;), n. 1. A bridge keeper; a warden or a guard for a bridge. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

2. The principal ward of a key. Knight.

Bridg"ing (&?;), n. (Arch.) The system of bracing used between floor or other timbers to distribute the weight.

Bridging joist. Same as Binding joist.

Bridg"y (&?;), a. Full of bridges. [R.] Sherwood.

Bri"dle (&?;), 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.

2. A restraint; a curb; a check. I. Watts.

3. (Gun.) The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the tumbler, 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.

Bri"dle, 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.

He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist. Drake.

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.

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

Syn. -- To check; restrain; curb; govern; control; repress; master; subdue.

Bri"dle, 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.

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

Bri"dle i`ron (&?;). (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.

Bri"dler (&?;), n. One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a bridle. Milton.

Bri*doon" (&?;), n. [F. bridon, from bride; of German origin. See Bridle, n.] (Mil.) The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. It is used in connection with a curb bit, which has its own rein. Campbell.

Brief (&?;), a. [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L. brevis; akin to Gr. &?; short, and perh. to Skr. barh to tear. Cf. Breve.] 1. Short in duration.

How brief the life of man. Shak.

2. Concise; terse; succinct.

The brief style is that which expresseth much in little. B. Jonson.