What is "bridle port"

Port \Port\, n. [F. porte, L. porta, akin to portus; cf. AS. porte, fr. L. porta. See Port a harbor, and cf. Porte.]

1. A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place; a gate; a door; a portal. [Archaic]

   Him I accuse The city ports by this hath entered.
   --Shak.

   Form their ivory port the cherubim Forth issuing.
   --Milton.

2. (Naut.) An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also, the shutters which close such an opening.

   Her ports being within sixteen inches of the water.
   --Sir W. Raleigh.

3. (Mach.) A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid, as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in a valve seat, or valve face.

   Air port, Bridle port, etc. See under Air, Bridle, etc.

   Port bar (Naut.), a bar to secure the ports of a ship in a gale.

   Port lid (Naut.), a lid or hanging for closing the portholes of a vessel.

   Steam port, & Exhaust port (Steam Engine), the ports of the cylinder communicating with the valve or valves, for the entrance or exit of the steam, respectively.

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.