noun

1. a head harness for guiding a horse: it consists of headstall, bit, and reins
2. anything resembling a horse's bridle
3. anything that controls or restrains
4. frenum
5. a connecting metal strip for limiting motion in machinery
6. Naut. a cable with the ends fast and another cable attached to it between the ends for applying force, as in towing a ship

Etymology: ME & OE bridel < bregdan, move quickly: see braid

transitive verb bridled bri′·dled, bridling bri′·dling

1. to put a bridle on
2. to curb or control with or as with a bridle

intransitive verb

1. to pull one's head back quickly with the chin drawn in as an expression of anger, scorn, pride, etc.
2. to take offense (at)