Bri·dle n.
 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.
 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.


 Branch n.; pl. Branches
 1. Bot. A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant.
 2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway.
    Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up.   --W. Irving.
 3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. “Branches of knowledge.”
    It is a branch and parcel of mine oath.   --Shak.
 4. Geom. One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola.
 5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family.
    His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock.   --Carew.
 6. Naut. A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.
 Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb.
 Branch herring. See Alewife.
 Root and branch , totally, wholly.
 Syn: -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.