GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Found 3 definitions
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Brace (), n. [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F. brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched out), pl. of bracchium arm; cf. Gr. .]
1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
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2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.
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The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.
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3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
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The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension. Holder.
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4. (Arch. & Engin.) A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
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5. (Print.) A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.
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6. (Naut.) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
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7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
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8. A pair; a couple; as, “a brace of ducks”; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. “A brace of greyhounds.” Shak.
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He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison.
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A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller.
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But you, my brace of lords. Shak.
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9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
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I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.
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10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
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For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak.
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11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
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12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall]
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Angle brace. See under Angle.
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Brace (), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braced (); p. pr. & vb. n. Bracing.]
1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, “to brace a beam in a building”.
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2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, “to brace the nerves”.
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And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.
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3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
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The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet. Locke.
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Some who spurs had first braced on. Sir W. Scott.
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4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, “he braced himself against the crowd”.
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A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. Fairfax.
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5. (Naut.) To move around by means of braces; as, “to brace the yards”.
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To brace about (Naut.), to turn (a yard) round for the contrary tack. -- To brace a yard (Naut.), to move it horizontally by means of a brace. -- To brace in (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by hauling in the weather brace. -- To brace one's self, to call up one's energies. “He braced himself for an effort which he was little able to make.” J. D. Forbes. -- To brace to (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by checking or easing off the lee brace, and hauling in the weather one, to assist in tacking. -- To brace up (Naut.), to bring (a yard) nearer the direction of the keel by hauling in the lee brace. -- To brace up sharp (Naut.), to turn (a yard) as far forward as the rigging will permit.
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Brace, v. i. To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up. [Colloq.]
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