What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bridle vs Headstall - What's the difference?

bridle | headstall |

As nouns the difference between bridle and headstall

is that bridle is the headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins while headstall is the part of a bridle that fits over a horse's head and supports other elements.

As a verb bridle

is to put a bridle 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

    headstall

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The part of a bridle that fits over a horse's head and supports other elements.
  • *1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.3:
  • *:Another, that would seeme to have more wit, / Him by the bright embrodered hed-stall tooke […].
  • *1989 , (Keith Bosley), translating Elias Lönnrot, The Kalevala , XIX:
  • *:Then the smith Ilmarinen / the everlasting craftsman / out of steel formed a bridle / forged a headstall of iron […].
  • Synonyms

    * headpiece * headcollar

    References

    Baranowski, Zdzislaw, "The International Horseman's Dictionary", Pitman Publishing, New York, 1955 Stratton, Charles, "The International Horseman's Dictionary", Hamlyn Publishing, Melbourne, 1975 Summerhayes, R.S., "Encyclopedia for Horsemen", Frederick Warne & Co., London and New York, 1966