1. [n]  the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper"
2. [n]  headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
3. [v]  respond to the reins, as of horses
4. [v]  put a bridle on; "bridle horses"

1. \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.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

3. \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.
   
   

Three Hebrew words are thus rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Heb. _mahsom'_ signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle, by which the rider governs his horse (Ps.39:1).

(2.) _Me'theg_, rendered also "bit" in Ps. 32:9, which is its proper meaning. Found in 2 Kings 19:28, where the restraints of God's providence are metaphorically styled his "bridle" and "hook." God's placing a "bridle in the jaws of the people" (Isa. 30:28; 37:29) signifies his preventing the Assyrians from carrying out their purpose against Jerusalem.

(3.) Another word, _re'sen_, was employed to represent a halter or bridle-rein, as used Ps. 32:9; Isa. 30:28. In Job 30:11 the restraints of law and humanity are called a bridle.