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.