Word
bridle
Phoneticsbri·dle
US/ˈbɹaɪdəɫ/
UK/bɹˈaɪdəl/
Definition
n. a piece of equipment used to control a horse. It fits over the horse's head and has a bit in the mouth to help the rider steer.
n. a headpiece for a horse, consisting of a bit and reins, used for controlling the animal. Often used metaphorically to describe a means of restraint or control.
Examples
“The rider tightened the bridle before starting the race.”
“After months of training, the young rider finally felt confident enough to ride without a bridle.”
“The poet used the image of a silver bridle to symbolize the delicate balance between freedom and the necessary constraints of social order.”
Examples
simple
“The rider tightened the bridle before starting the race.”
contextual
“After months of training, the young rider finally felt confident enough to ride without a bridle.”
complex
“The poet used the image of a silver bridle to symbolize the delicate balance between freedom and the necessary constraints of social order.”
Etymology
From Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel, from Proto-West Germanic brigdil, from Proto-Germanic brigdilaz (“strap, rein”), equivalent to braid + -le.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bridle