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Bridle vs Halter - What's the difference?

bridle | halter |

As nouns the difference between bridle and halter

is that bridle is the headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins while halter is a bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.

As verbs the difference between bridle and halter

is that bridle is to put a bridle on while halter is to place a halter on.

bridle

English

(wikipedia bridle)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins.
  • * 1961 , J. A. Philip, "Mimesis in the Sophistês," Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philological Association 92, p. 457:
    • the horseman, who is the user of bridles and knows their use
  • (figurative) A restraint; a curb; a check.
  • A length of line or cable attached to two parts of something to spread the force of a pull, as the rigging on a kite for attaching line.
  • A mooring hawser.
  • A piece in the interior of a gunlock which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.

    • Derived terms

    * bridle path * bridlewise

    Verb

    (bridl)
  • To put a bridle on.
  • * Drake
    • He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist.
  • To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as in bridle your tongue .
  • * Burke
    • Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation.
  • To show hostility or resentment.
    • Immigrant-rights and religious organizations bridled at the plan to favor highly skilled workers over relatives.'' (''Houston Chronicle , 6/8/2007)

    Derived terms

    * unbridle

    Synonyms

    * restrain

    halter

    English

    (wikipedia halter)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) halter, helter, helfter, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
  • A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
  • *, II.12:
    • And Crates said, that love was cured with hunger, if not by time; and in him that liked not these two meanes, by the halter .
  • *{{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , chapter=4, title= Lord Stranleigh Abroad , passage=“
  • A woman's garment covering the upper chest, a halter top.
    • Synonyms
    * headstall * headpiece * headcollar (British)

    Verb

  • To place a halter on.
    • What do you mean, you didn't halter the horses when we stopped for the night?

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who halts or limps; a cripple.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----