Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRIDG'Y, a.

Full of bridges. [Not used.] – Sherwood.

BRI'DLE, n. [Sax. bridl, or bridel; Fr. bride; Arm. brid; D. breidel, a bridle; Sp. brida, the reins of a bridle; Port. brida.]

1. The instrument with which a horse is governed and restrained by a rider; consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages, according to its particular form and uses.
2. A restraint; a curb; a check. – Watts.
3. A short piece of cable well served, attached to a swivel on a chain, laid in a harbor, and the upper end drawn into a ship and secured to the bitts. The use is to enable a ship, when moored, to veer with the wind and tide. – Mar. Dict. Bowline bridles are short legs or pieces of rope, running through iron thimbles, by which the bowline attaches to different places on the leech or edge of a large sail. – Mar. Dict.

BRI'DLE, v.i.

To hold up the head, and draw in the chin.

BRI'DLE, v.t.

1. To put on a bridle; as, to bridle a horse.
2. To restrain, guide or govern; to check, curb or control; as, to bridle the passions; “to bridle a muse.” – Pope. Bridle the excursions of youth. – Dwight.

BRI'DLED, pp.

Having a bridle on; restrained.

BRI'DLE-HAND, n. [bridle and hand.]

The hand which holds the bridle in riding. – Sidney.

BRI'DLER, n.

One that bridles; one that restrains and governs. – Milton.

BRI'DLING, ppr.

1. Putting on a bridle; restraining; curbing.
2. Holding up the head, and drawing in the chin. The bridling frown of wrinkled brows. – Trumbull.

BRIEF, a. [Fr. bref; It. Sp. and Port. breve; L. brevis, whence brevio, to shorten, abbreviate. Brevis, in Latin, is doubtless contracted from the Gr. βραχος, whence to abridge. The Greek word coincides in elements with break.]

Short; concise; it is used chiefly of language, discourses, writings and time; as, a brief space, a brief review of a book. Shakespeare applies it to wars, to nature, &c. A little brief authority, is authority very limited.

BRIEF, n. [In this sense the word has been received into most of the languages of Europe.]

1. An epitome; a short or concise writing. This is the general sense of the word, as explained by Zonaras on the council of Carthage. It was thus used as early as the third century after Christ. – Spelman. In modern times, an apostolical brief is a letter which the pope dispatches to a prince or other magistrate, relating to public affairs. A brief is distinguished from a bull, in being more concise, written on paper, sealed with red wax, and impressed with the seal of the fisherman or Peter in a boat. A bull is more ample, written on parchment, and sealed with lead or green wax. – Encyc.
2. In law, an abridgment of a client's case, made out for the instruction of council on a trial at law. – Encyc. Johnson. Also, a writ summoning a man to answer to any action; or any precept of the king in writing, issuing from any court, whereby he commands a thing to be done. – Cowel. In 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. – Encyc.
3. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a public collection or charitable contribution of money for any public or private purpose.
4. A writing in general. – Shak. In music, the word, if I mistake not, is now written breve.

BRIEF'LESS, a.

Having no brief.

BRIEF'LY, adv.

Concisely; in few words. – Bacon.

BRIEF'NESS, n.

Shortness; conciseness in discourse or writing. – Camden.

BRI'ER, n. [Sax. brær; Ir. briar, a prickle; Fr. bruyere, heath; Arm. brug. The latter shows this word to be from the root of rough.]

1. In a general sense, a prickly plant or shrub. – Is. v, 6. Judges viii, 7.
2. In a limited sense, the sweet-brier and the wild-brier, species of the Rose.

BRI'ER-ED, a.

Set with briers.

BRI'ER-Y, a.

Full of briers; rough; thorny. – Johnson.

BRIG, n.¹

the termination of names, signifies a bridge, or perhaps, in some cases, a town, or burg.

BRIG, n.² [from brigantine.]

A vessel with two masts, square rigged, or rigged nearly like a ship's mainmast and foremast. The term however is variously applied by the mariners of different nations. – Mar. Dict.

BRI-GADE', n. [Fr. brigade; It. brigata; Sp. and Port. brigada; perhaps from Ar. فَرِيقُ farikon, agmen, turba hominum major, that is, a division, from فَرَقَ faraka, to break. This word comes to us from the south of Europe, and may have been introduced into Spain by the Moors. If this conjecture is not well founded, I know not the origin of the word. See Cast. Hept. Col. 3084.]

A party or division of troops, or soldiers, whether cavalry or infantry, regular or militia, commanded by a brigadier. It consists of an indeterminate number of regiments, squadroons, or battalions. A brigade of horse is a body of eight or ten squadrons; of infantry, four, five, or six battalions, or regiments.

BRI-GADE', v.t.

To form into a brigade, or into brigades.

BRIG-AD'ED, pp.

Formed into a brigade.

BRI-GADE'-MA-JOR, n. [See Major.]

An officer appointed by the brigadier, to assist him in the management and ordering of his brigade.

BRIG-A-DIER', or BRIG-A-DIER'-GEN-E-RAL, n. [Fr. from brigade.]

The general officer who commands a brigade, whether of horse or foot, and in rank next below a major-general.

BRIG-AD'ING, ppr.

Forming into a brigade.

BRIG'AND, n. [Fr. brigand; W. brigant, a mountaineer, a plunderer, from W. brig, a top or summit.]

A robber; a freebooter; a lawless fellow who lives by plunder, or who belongs to a band of robbers. – Warburton.