What is "bridle rein"

Bridle \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.)

   1. 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.

   2. 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.

      1. Same as Bridle path.
         --Lowell.

      2. A road in a pleasure park reserved for horseback exercise.

         Bridle track, a bridle path.

         Scolding bridle. See Branks, 2.

         Syn: A check; restrain.