bridel

Middle English

Alternative forms

• brydel, bridle, brydyl, brydyll, bridell, brydylle, bridil, bridill, brydul

Etymology

From Old English brīdel, from Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz; equivalent to breiden +‎ -el.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbriːdəl/

Noun

bridel (plural bridels)

1. The bridle; the set of headwear for directing a horse.
2. The reins; the piece of headwear used to direct a horse.

   • a. 1382, John Wycliffe, “Psalm 32:9”, in Wycliffe's Bible:

     Nile ye be maad as an hors and mule; to whiche is noon vndurstondyng. Lord, constreyne thou the chekis of hem with a bernacle and bridil; that neiȝen not to thee.

     Don't behave like a horse or mule, who don't understand anything. Lord, you constrain the cheeks of them with a bit and a bridle, or they won't go to you.

3. The bit; a mouthpiece for a horse that is attached to the reins.
4. (figurative) Supervision, monitoring, constraint, direction.
5. (figurative) Something that constrains or directs; a guideline.
6. (rare) A strip or band of fabric.

Related terms

• bridlen

Descendants

• English: bridle
• Scots: bridle, bridil, brydill

References

• “brīdel (n.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-10.

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Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbriː.del/

Noun

brīdel m

1. bridle