Bride-ale Bride"-ale` noun [ 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 Bride"bed` noun The marriage bed. [ Poetic]

Bridecake Bride"cake` noun Rich or highly ornamented cake, to be distributed to the guests at a wedding, or sent to friends after the wedding.

Bridechamber Bride"cham`ber noun The nuptial apartment. Matt. ix. 15.

Bridegroom Bride"groom` (-grōm`) noun [ Middle English bridegome , brudgume , Anglo-Saxon brȳdguma (akin to Old Saxon brūdigumo , Dutch bruidegom , bruigom , Old High German prūtigomo , Middle High German briutegome , German bräutigam ); Anglo-Saxon brȳd bride + guma man, akin to Goth. guma , Icelandic gumi , Old High German gomo , Latin homo ; the insertion of r being caused by confusion with groom . See Bride , and confer Groom , Homage .] A man newly married, or just about to be married.

Brideknot Bride"knot` noun A knot of ribbons worn by a guest at a wedding; a wedding favor. [ Obsolete]

Bridemaid Bride"maid` noun , Bride"man noun See Bridesmaid , Bridesman .

Bridesmaid Brides"maid` noun A female friend who attends on a bride at her wedding.

Bridesman Brides"man noun ; plural Bridesmen A male friend who attends upon a bridegroom and bride at their marriage; the "best man." Sir W. Scott.

Bridestake Bride"stake` noun 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 Bride"well noun 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 Bridge noun [ Middle English brig , brigge , brug , brugge , Anglo-Saxon brycg , bricg ; akin to Fries. bregge , Dutch brug , Old High German brucca , German brücke , Icelandic bryggja pier, bridge, Swedish brygga , Danish brygge , and probably Icelandic brū bridge, Swedish & Danish bro bridge, pavement, and possibly to English 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. (Electricity) 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 (Nautical) , 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 (Electricity) , 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 .

Bridge Bridge (brĭj) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Bridged (brĭjd); present participle & verbal noun 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 .

Bridge Bridge noun A card game resembling whist. The trump, if any, is determined by the dealer or his partner, the value of each trick taken over six being: for "no trumps" 12, hearts 8, diamonds 6, clubs 4, spades 2. The opponents of the dealer can, after the trump is declared, double the value of the tricks, in which case the dealer or his partner can redouble, and so on. The dealer plays his partner's hand as a dummy. The side which first reaches or exceeds 30 points scored for tricks wins a game ; the side which first wins two games wins a rubber . The total score for any side is the sum of the points scored for tricks, for rubbers (each of which counts 100), for honors (which follow a special schedule of value), and for slam , little slam , and chicane .

Bridge-ward Bridge"-ward` noun 1. A bridge keeper; a warden or a guard for a bridge. [ Obsolete] Sir W. Scott.

2. The principal ward of a key. Knight.

Bridgeboard Bridge"board` noun 1. (Architecture) 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 Bridge"head` noun 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 tête-de-pont.

Bridgeless Bridge"less adjective Having no bridge; not bridged.

Bridgepot Bridge"pot` noun (Mining) The adjustable socket, or step, of a millstone spindle. Knight.

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

Bridging Bridg"ing noun (Architecture) The system of bracing used between floor or other timbers to distribute the weight.

Bridging joist . Same as Binding joist .

Bridgy Bridg"y adjective Full of bridges. [ R.] Sherwood.

Bridle Bri"dle noun [ Middle English bridel , Anglo-Saxon bridel ; akin to Old High German britil , brittil , Dutch breidel , and possibly to English braid . Confer 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. (Nautical) (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 (Nautical) , 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 (Nautical) , 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 Bri"dle transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Bridled ; present participle & verbal noun 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 Bri"dle intransitive verb 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 Bri"dle i`ron (Architecture) 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 Bri"dler noun One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a bridle. Milton.

Bridoon Bri·doon" noun [ French bridon , from bride ; of German origin. See Bridle , noun ] (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.

Brie cheese Brie" cheese" A kind of soft French cream cheese; -- so called from the district in France where it is made; -- called also fromage de Brie .

Brief Brief adjective [ Middle English bref , French brief , bref , from Latin brevis ; akin to Greek ... short, and perhaps to Sanskrit barh to tear. Confer 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 , noun

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

Brief Brief adverb 1. Briefly. [ Obsolete or Poetic]

Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief .
Milton.

2. Soon; quickly. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Brief Brief (brēf) noun [ See Brief , adjective , and confer 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.

» 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 , noun , 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 Brief transitive verb To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.

Briefless Brief"less adjective Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister.

Briefly Brief"ly adverb Concisely; in few words.

Briefman Brief"man noun 1. One who makes a brief.

2. A copier of a manuscript.

Briefness Brief"ness noun The quality of being brief; brevity; conciseness in discourse or writing.

Brier, Briar Bri"er, Bri"ar noun [ Middle English brere , brer , Anglo-Saxon brēr , brær ; confer 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. Walteri ; -- 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 Bri"ered adjective Set with briers. Chatterton.

Briery Bri"er·y adjective Full of briers; thorny.

Briery Bri"er·y noun A place where briers grow. Huloet.

Brig Brig (brĭg) noun A bridge. [ Scot.] Burns.

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

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

Brig Brig noun [ Origin unknown.] (Nav.) On a United States man-of-war, the prison or place of confinement for offenders.

Brigade Bri·gade" noun [ French brigade , from Italian brigata troop, crew, brigade, originally, a contending troop, from 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.

» Two or more brigades constitute a division, commanded by a major general; two or more divisions constitute an army corps, or corps d'armée . [ 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 Bri·gade" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Brigaded ; present participle & verbal noun Brigading .] (Mil.) To form into a brigade, or into brigades.

Brigadier general Brig`a·dier" gen"er·al [ French brigadier , from 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 Brig"and (brĭg" a nd) noun [ French brigand , Old French brigant light-armed soldier, from Late Latin brigans light-armed soldier (cf. Italian brigante .) from brigare to strive, contend, from briga quarrel; probably of German origin, and akin to English break ; confer Goth. brikan to break, brakja strife. Confer Brigue .] 1. A light-armed, irregular foot soldier. [ Obsolete]

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 Brig"and·age (-aj) noun [ French brigandage .] Life and practice of brigands; highway robbery; plunder.

Brigandine Brig"an·dine noun [ French brigandine (cf. Italian brigantina ), from Old French 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.

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