Part 1331

<h1>Brabbler</h1> <Xpage=173>

<hw>Brab"bler</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A clamorous, quarrelsome, noisy fellow; a wrangler.</def> <mark></mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Braccate</h1> <Xpage=173>

<hw>Brac"cate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt><ety>[L. <ets>bracatus</ets> wearing breeches, fr. <ets>bracae</ets> breeches.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Furnished with feathers which conceal the feet.</def>

<h1>Brace</h1> <Xpage=173>

<hw>Brace</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>brace</ets>, <ets>brasse</ets>, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F. <ets>brasse</ets> fathom, fr. L. <ets>bracchia</ets> the arms (stretched out), pl. of <ets>bracchium</ets> arm; cf. Gr. <?/.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.</def>

<blockquote>The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the <b>braces</b> of the war drum do in that. <i>Derham.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The state of being braced or tight; tension.</def>

<blockquote>The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its <b>brace</b> or tension. <i>Holder.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Arch. & Engin.)</fld> <def>A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler <i>brace</i> is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Print.)</fld> <def>A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, <i>boll</i>, <i>bowl</i>; or, in music, used to connect staves.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <def>A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>A pair; a couple; <as>as, a <ex>brace</ex> of ducks</as>; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.</def> "A <i>brace</i> of greyhounds."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>He is said to have shot . . . fifty <b>brace</b> of pheasants. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A <b>brace</b> of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>But you, my <b>brace</b> of lords. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.</def>

<blockquote>I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of <b>braces</b>. <i>Thackeray.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>Harness; warlike preparation.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>For that it stands not in such warlike <b>brace</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>Armor for the arm; vantbrace.</def>

<p><b>12.</b> <fld>(Mining)</fld> <def>The mouth of a shaft.</def> <mark>[Cornwall]</mark>

<cs><col>Angle brace</col>. <cd>See under <er>Angle</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Brace</h1> <Xpage=173>