Chapter 196

Bride (?) , n. [OE. bride , brid , brude , brud , burd , AS. br<?/d ; akin to OFries. breid , OSax. br<?/d , D. bruid , OHG. pr<?/t , br<?/t , G. braut , Icel. br<?/<?/r , Sw. & Dan. brud , Goth. br33s ; cf. Armor. pried spouse, W. priawd a married person.] 1. A woman newly married, or about to be married.

Has by his own experience tried How much the wife is dearer than the bride . Lyttleton.

I will show thee the bride , the Lamb's wife. Rev. xxi. 9.

2. Fig.: An object ardently loved.

Bride of the sea , the city of Venice.

Bride <Xpage=180>

Bride , v. t. To make a bride of. [Obs.]

Bride-ale <Xpage=180>

Bride"-ale` (?) , n. [See Bridal .] A rustic wedding feast; a bridal. See Ale .

The man that 's bid to bride-ale , if he ha' cake, And drink enough, he need not fear his stake. B. Jonson.

Bridebed <Xpage=180>

Bride"bed` (?) , n. The marriage bed. [Poetic]

Bridecake <Xpage=180>

Bride"cake` (?) , n. Rich or highly ornamented cake, to be distributed to the guests at a wedding, or sent to friends after the wedding.

Bridechamber <Xpage=180>

Bride"cham`ber (?) , n. The nuptial appartment.

Matt. ix. 15.

Bridegroom <Xpage=180>

Bride"groom` (?) , n. [OE. bridegome , brudgume , AS. br<?/dguma (akin to OS. br<?/digumo , D. bruidegom , bruigom , OHG. pr<?/tigomo , MHG. briutegome , G. br\'84utigam ); AS. br<?/d bride + guma man, akin to Goth. guma , Icel. gumi , OHG. gomo , L. homo ; the insertion of r being caused by confusion with groom . See Bride , and cf. Groom , Homage .] A man newly married, or just about to be married.

Brideknot <Xpage=180>

Bride"knot` (?) , n. A knot of ribbons worn by a guest at a wedding; a wedding favor. [Obs.]

Bridemaid, n., Brideman <Xpage=180>

Bride"maid` (?) , n. , Bride"man (<?/) , n. See Bridesmaid , Bridesman .

Bridesmaid <Xpage=180>

Brides"maid` (?) , n. A female friend who attends on a bride at her wedding.

Bridesman <Xpage=180>

Brides"man (?) , n. ; pl. Bridesmen (<?/) . A male friend who attends upon a bridegroom and bride at their marriage; the "best man."

Sir W. Scott.

Bridestake <Xpage=180>

Bride"stake` (?) , n. A stake or post set in the ground, for guests at a wedding to dance round.

Divide the broad bridecake Round about the bridestake . B. Jonson.

Bridewell <Xpage=180>

Bride"well (?) , n. A house of correction for the confinement of disorderly persons; -- so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St . Bride's (or Bridget's ) well , in London, which was subsequently a penal workhouse.

Bridge <Xpage=180>

Bridge (?) , n. [OE. brig , brigge , brug , brugge , AS. brycg , bricg ; akin to Fries. bregge , D. brug , OHG. bruccu , G. br\'81cke , Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga , Dan. brygge , and prob. Icel. br<?/ bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge, pavement, and possibly to E. brow .] 1. A structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river or other water course, or over a chasm, railroad, etc., to make a passageway from one bank to the other.

2. Anything supported at the ends, which serves to keep some other thing from resting upon the object spanned, as in engraving, watchmaking, etc., or which forms a platform or staging over which something passes or is conveyed.

3. (Mus.) The small arch or bar at right angles to the strings of a violin, guitar, etc., serving of raise them and transmit their vibrations to the body of the instrument.

4. (Elec.) A device to measure the resistance of a wire or other conductor forming part of an electric circuit.

5. A low wall or vertical partition in the fire chamber of a furnace, for deflecting flame, etc.; -- usually called a bridge wall .

Aqueduct bridge . See Aqueduct . -- Asses' bridge , Bascule bridge , Bateau bridge . See under Ass , Bascule , Bateau . -- Bridge of a steamer (Naut.) , a narrow platform across the deck, above the rail, for the convenience of the officer in charge of the ship; in paddlewheel vessels it connects the paddle boxes. -- Bridge of the nose , the upper, bony part of the nose. -- Cantalever bridge . See under Cantalever . -- Draw bridge . See Drawbridge . -- Flying bridge , a temporary bridge suspended or floating, as for the passage of armies; also, a floating structure connected by a cable with an anchor or pier up stream, and made to pass from bank to bank by the action of the current or other means. -- Girder bridge &or; Truss bridge , a bridge formed by girders, or by trusses resting upon abutments or piers. -- Lattice bridge , a bridge formed by lattice girders. -- Pontoon bridge , Ponton bridge . See under Pontoon . -- Skew bridge , a bridge built obliquely from bank to bank, as sometimes required in railway engineering. -- Suspension bridge . See under Suspension . -- Trestle bridge , a bridge formed of a series of short, simple girders resting on trestles. -- Tubular bridge , a bridge in the form of a hollow trunk or rectangular tube, with cellular walls made of iron plates riveted together, as the Britannia bridge over the Menai Strait, and the Victoria bridge at Montreal. -- Wheatstone's bridge (Elec.) , a device for the measurement of resistances, so called because the balance between the resistances to be measured is indicated by the absence of a current in a certain wire forming a bridge or connection between two points of the apparatus; -- invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone .

<page="181"> Page 181

Bridge <Xpage=181>

Bridge (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bridged (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bridging .] 1. To build a bridge or bridges on or over; as, to bridge a river .

Their simple engineering bridged with felled trees the streams which could not be forded. Palfrey.

2. To open or make a passage, as by a bridge.

Xerxes . . . over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined. Milton.

3. To find a way of getting over, as a difficulty; -- generally with over .

Bridgeboard <Xpage=181>

Bridge"board` (?) , n. 1. (Arch.) A notched board to which the treads and risers of the steps of wooden stairs are fastened.

2. A board or plank used as a bridge.

Bridgehead <Xpage=181>

Bridge"head` (?) , n. A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge, and prevent the enemy from crossing; a t\'88te-de-pont.

Bridgeless <Xpage=181>

Bridge"less , a. Having no bridge; not bridged.

Bridgepot <Xpage=181>

Bridge"pot` (?) , n. (Mining) The adjustable socket, or step, of a millstone spindle.

Knight.

Bridgetree <Xpage=181>

Bridge"tree` (?) , n. [ Bridge + tree a beam.] (Mining) The beam which supports the spindle socket of the runner in a grinding mill.

Knight.

Bridge-ward <Xpage=181>

Bridge"-ward` (?) , n. 1. A bridge keeper; a warden or a guard for a bridge. [Obs.]

Sir W. Scott.

2. The principal ward of a key.

Knight.

Bridgeing <Xpage=181>

Bridge"ing (?) , n. (Arch.) The system of bracing used between floor or other timbers to distribute the weight.

Bridging joist . Same as Binding joist .

Bridgey <Xpage=181>

Bridge"y (?) , a. Full of bridges. [R.]

Sherwood.

Bridle <Xpage=181>

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 timbler, 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.

Bridle <Xpage=181>

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.

Bridle <Xpage=181>

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.

Bridle iron <Xpage=181>

Bri"dle i`ron (?) . (Arch.) A strong flat bar of iron, so bent as to support, as in a stirrup, one end of a floor timber, etc., where no sufficient bearing can be had; -- called also stirrup and hanger .

Bridler <Xpage=181>

Bri"dler (?) , n. One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a bridle.

Milton.

Bridoon <Xpage=181>

Bri*doon" (?) , n. [F. bridon , from bride ; of German origin. See Bridle , n. ] (Mil.) The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. It is used in connection with a curb bit, which has its own rein.

Campbell.

Brief <Xpage=181>

Brief (?) , a. [OE. bref , F. brief , bref , fr. L. brevis ; akin to Gr. <?/ short, and perh. to Skr. barh to tear. Cf. Breve .] 1. Short in duration.

How brief the life of man. Shak.

2. Concise; terse; succinct.

The brief style is that which expresseth much in little. B. Jonson.

3. Rife; common; prevalent. [Prov. Eng.]

In brief . See under Brief , n.

Syn. -- Short; concise; succinct; summary; compendious; condensed; terse; curt; transistory; short-lived.

Brief <Xpage=181>

Brief , adv. 1. Briefly. [Obs. or Poetic]

Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief . Milton.

2. Soon; quickly. [Obs.]

Shak.

Brief <Xpage=181>

Brief (?) , n. [See Brief , a. , and cf. Breve .] 1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.

Bear this sealed brief , With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. Shak.

And she told me In a sweet, verbal brief . Shak.

2. An epitome.

Each woman is a brief of womankind. Overbury.

3. (Law) An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.

It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief . Sir J. Stephen.

&hand; In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs.

4. (Law) A writ; a breve. See Breve , n. , 2.

5. (Scots Law) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.

6. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose. [Eng.]

Apostolical brief , a letter of the pope written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," i. e. , "from the day of the Nativity," and sealed with the ring of the fisherman. It differs from a bull , in its parchment, written character, date, and seal. See Bull . -- Brief of title , an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds and other papers constituting the chain of title to any real estate. -- In brief , in a few words; in short; briefly. "Open the matter in brief ." Shak.

Brief <Xpage=181>

Brief , v. t. To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings .

Briefless <Xpage=181>

Brief"less (?) , a. Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister .

Briefly <Xpage=181>

Brief"ly (?) , adv. Concisely; in few words.

Briefman <Xpage=181>

Brief"man (?) , n. 1. One who makes a brief.

2. A copier of a manuscript.

Briefness <Xpage=181>

Brief"ness (?) , n. The quality of being brief; brevity; conciseness in discourse or writing.

Brier, Briar <Xpage=181>

Bri"er , Bri"ar (?) , n. [OE. brere , brer , AS. br\'c7r , br\'91r ; cf. Ir. briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas bush, brier, W. prys , prysg .] 1. A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa , Rubus , and Smilax .

2. Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.

The thorns and briers of reproof. Cowper.

Brier root , the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and S. Walleri ; -- used for tobacco pipes. -- Cat brier , Green brier , several species of Smilax ( S. rotundifolia , etc.) -- Sweet brier ( Rosa rubiginosa ). See Sweetbrier . -- Yellow brier , the Rosa Eglantina .

Briered <Xpage=181>

Bri"ered (?) , a. Set with briers.

Chatterton.

Briery <Xpage=181>

Bri"er*y (?) , a. Full of briers; thorny.

Briery <Xpage=181>

Bri"er*y , n. A place where briers grow.

Huloet.

Brig <Xpage=181>

Brig (?) , n. A bridge. [Scot.]

Burns.

Brig <Xpage=181>

Brig , n. [Shortened from Brigantine .] (Naut.) A two-masted, square-rigged vessel.

Hermaphrodite brig , a two-masted vessel square-rigged forward and schooner-rigged aft. See Illustration in Appendix.

Brigade <Xpage=181>

Bri*gade" (?) , n. [F. brigade , fr. It. brigata troop, crew, brigade, originally, a contending troop, fr. briga trouble, quarrel. See Brigand .] 1. (Mil.) A body of troops, whether cavalry, artillery, infantry, or mixed, consisting of two or more regiments, under the command of a brigadier general.

&hand; Two or more brigades constitute a division, commanded by a major general; two or more divisions constitute an army corps, or corps d'arm\'82e . [U.S.]

2. Any body of persons organized for acting or marching together under authority; as, a fire brigade .

Brigade inspector , an officer whose duty is to inspect troops in companies before they are mustered into service. -- Brigade major , an officer who may be attached to a brigade to assist the brigadier in his duties.

Brigade <Xpage=181>

Bri*gade" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Brigaded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Brigading .] (Mil.) To form into a brigade, or into brigades.

Brigadier general <Xpage=181>

Brig`a*dier" gen"er*al (?) . [F. brigadier , fr. brigade .] (Mil.) An officer in rank next above a colonel, and below a major general. He commands a brigade, and is sometimes called, by a shortening of his title, simple a brigadier .

Brigand <Xpage=181>

Brig"and (?) , n. [F. brigand , OF. brigant light-armed soldier, fr. LL. brigans light-armed soldier (cf. It. brigante .) fr. brigare to strive, contend, fr. briga quarrel; prob. of German origin, and akin to E. break ; cf. Goth. brikan to break, brakja strife. Cf. Brigue .] 1. A light-armed, irregular foot soldier. [Obs.]

2. A lawless fellow who lives by plunder; one of a band of robbers; especially, one of a gang living in mountain retreats; a highwayman; a freebooter.

Giving them not a little the air of brigands or banditti. Jeffery.

Brigandage <Xpage=181>

Brig"and*age (?) , n. [F. brigandage .] Life and practice of brigands; highway robbery; plunder.

Brigandine <Xpage=181>

Brig"an*dine (?) , n. [F. brigandine (cf. It. brigantina ), fr. OF. brigant . See Brigand .] A coast of armor for the body, consisting of scales or plates, sometimes overlapping each other, generally of metal, and sewed to linen or other material. It was worn in the Middle Ages. [Written also brigantine .]

Jer. xlvi. 4.

Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet, And brigandine of brass. Milton.

Brigandish <Xpage=181>

Brig"and*ish (?) , a. Like a brigand or freebooter; robberlike.

Brigandism <Xpage=181>

Brig"and*ism (?) , n. Brigandage.

Brigantine <Xpage=181>

Brig"an*tine (?) , n. [F. brigantin , fr. It. brigantino , originally, a practical vessel. See Brigand , and cf. Brig ] 1. A practical vessel. [Obs.]

2. A two-masted, square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig in that she does not carry a square mainsail.