/ ˈbraɪdl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
a set of leather bands, attached to reins , which is put around a horse's head and used for controlling it
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to put a bridle on a horse
2.
[ v ] bridle (at sth) ( literary ) to show that you are annoyed and/or offended at sth, especially by moving your head up and backwards in a proud way :
She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English brīdel (noun), brīdlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breidel (noun). Sense 2 of the verb use is from the action of a horse when reined in.