brace 
651 
tool or bit, tlxed in tin; pad. is pressed forward h\ tin 
uiukmaii. ><' "/<.//- !,'!:. <M, anil cut under l,il */<-k. 
15. A wooden rod with spiked ends, 
brace-head (bras'hed), . In /</, -//n</, ii largo 
box, key, nr wrench, with long levers or uadlM, 
used in turning a boring-tool, 
used to Bupipprt oenery in a theater. brace . key (bras'ke), . In ///</, a tiller , 
-16. ,,l. '1 he iMtiun slides on the Hiatill!f O f t \ vo ir , m j,,,ndles serewed together in 
opposite ways, so a8 to elip between them the 
rods used in deep borings, When tin- ban. II. an- 
screwed on (Irmly tin-} I'MI MI tun levers fnrtiiriiiiiL' tin- i",N 
;i- r'i|iiircil, the top length of roil being furnished willl ,1 
-i\i I H. Miir'Kin, Manual of Mining Tooli, p. 162. 
bracelet (bras'let), n. [< F. brm-rli-l, dim. of 
i )!'. lii-itrrl. brnchel, an annlet or defense for the 
arm. < ML. brnrhilt; < L. bracchiale, an armlet, < 
liriii-cliiiiui, the arm: see brace 1 , .] 1. An or- 
namental baud, ring, or clasped chain for the 
cords of a snare-drum, by which the 
tension of the head is vaned.Brace- 
blt. Sec MI. French brace, an angle brmo. 
(whichsee). Geared brace, a bin ing tool the 
liit or drill of bieh i* turned li\ a hand-crank 
ami in M I gear. Principal brace, in build- 
..race immediately under tin princi]wl 
ratters, nr parallel to them, and in a state of 
comprc-.-i. >n It MTTW tn aist the princi- 
lluill.ri., pals ill supporting the roof timbers. iVf. 
Ratchet-brace, a carpenters' brace In 
which, by means of gearing, a haek-and-forth motion is 
converted into a rotary one, thus causing tin bit to turn. 
Wind-brace, a diagonal brace to tie the rafters of a 
roof together and prevent racking. Ill the best examples 
of medieval routs tie- u ind-braees are arched, and run from 
tin principal rafters to the purlins. Kiicy>\ 11,-it. = Syn. 3. 
('"ll/ilr. etc. See /I|Y. 
brace 1 (bras), i<. t. ; pret. and pp. braced, ppr. 
lirncitig. [< ME. brncen, brace, embrace, < OF. 
bracer, lirarii-r, brtixser, < brace, embrace, = Pr. 
brnniMir = It. bracciarc, brace ; from the noun.] 
If. To clasp or grasp; embrace; hold firmly. 
Swet frcnde, I fele mortal detbc me brace, 
Seller After thys comforth to pun -hai -e 
Off surgery-erafte ne with medicine, 
I in .-lulled 1 am fill of uenyine. 
/;,. .,( l;,,l, (K. K. T. S.), 1. 1446. 
A sturdy lance in bis right hand he b,;,,;-,l. 
Fairfax, tr. of Tasso, xl. 75. 
2. To bind or tie closely; fit or secure by ties; 
bandage; strap. 
The women of China, by bracing and binding them, 
from their Infancy, have very little feet Locke. 
They braced my aunt against a board. 
To make her straight and tall. 
O. 1C. Holmes, My Aunt. 
3. To string or bend (a bow) by putting the 
eye of the string in the upper nock preparatory 
to shooting. 4. To make tense; strain up; in- 
crease the tension, tone, or vigor of ; strength- 
en : used both literally and figuratively : as, to 
brace the nerves. 
The tympanum is not capable of teusion that way, In 
such a manner as a drum is braced. 
Holder, Elements of Speech. 
He drank 'twas needful his poor nerves to brace. 
Crabbe, The Borough. 
Strong affection braced the feeble mind of the princess. 
Macaulay, Ulst. Eng., ix. 
5. To fix in the position of a brace; hold firm- 
ly in place : used reflexively : as, to brace one's 
self against a post or a crowd. 6. To furnish 
with, or support or prop by, braces: as, to brace 
a building or a falling wall. 7. Naut., to swing 
or turn around (the yards of a ship) by means 
of the braces. 
We caught the southeast trades, and ran before them 
for nearly three weeks, without so much as altering a sail 
or bracinij a yard. /i. //. Daiut, Jr. , Before the Mast, p. 63. 
8. In irriting and printing, to unite or connect 
by a brace, as two or more lines, staves of 
music, etc. To brace aback, see /<*. To brace 
about, to brace (the yards of a ship) in a contrary direc- 
tion. To brace fortht, to press forth. 
The prince of planetis that proudely is pight 
Sail brttcryurtl, his beiues that oure belde blithes. 
i'or* Plays, p. 12S. 
To brace in (naut.), to slack the lee braces and haul in 
the weather inn-- To brace sharp (n(.), to cause the 
yards to have the smallest possible angle with the keel. 
To brace up. ("1 \ant..t lay the \ards more fore-and- 
aft, so that the ship will sail closer to the wind. (6) To 
increase the tension, tone, or vigor of : often used intran- 
sitively with the object understood. 
Every nerve in his frame was braced up for a spring. 
H'trltfim. Ingoldsby Legends, I. 3Hi. 
brace 2 ? (bras), u. [Origin obscure.] In miii- 
iii,i, the Mooring around the mouth of a shaft. 
[Cornwall.] 
braced (brust),/). . 1. In her., interlaced or 
linked together: said of bearings so arranged. 
Also brmcd. 2. In 
entom., attached by 
the caudal extremi- 
ty and supported in 
an upright or ob- 
lique position by a 
silken thread cross- 
ing the thorax, and 
fastened to the sup- 
porting surface: said 
of the chrysalis of a butterfly. Also 
called fiirt or hoiiinl. Braced inter- 
laced, in !->-.. same as I, ,-,- ./. 1. 
brace-drill (bras'dril), n. A drill 
shaped like a carpenters' brace, 
used for boring mettils. In one form a feed-screw 
and hack -center tie- latter abutting against some rigid 
body or part, are substituted for the hand-plate or breast 
plate. 
Three Chevrons 
Br:icett. 
Egyptian and Assyrian Bracelets. 
wrist, now worn mostly by women. Bracelets 
were among the earliest personal ornaments, and are seen 
in rich and varied forms In ancient Egyptian and Assyrian 
sculptures. They have been worn almost universally, 
from the earliest times to the present day. by Imth savage 
and civilized peoples. See armlrt, armilla, and ban/ilr?. 
I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put brarrlet* 
upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. Ezek. xvt 11. 
Both his hands were cut off, being known to have worn 
bracelet* of gold about his wrists. Sir J. Ilaj/imrd. 
2. Humorously, a shackle for the wrist; a 
handcuff. 
'I here he shall keep close, 
Till I provide him flies and food ; for yet 
His iron bracelets are not off. 
Fletcher (and another), Two Xohle Kinsmen, li. 6. 
3. A piece of armor, whether the lower part of 
the brassart or the wrist-piece of the gauntlet 
(which see). 
Armed with back and breast, head piece and bracelet*. 
Scott, Legend of Montrose, if. 
4. In palmistry, a mark across the inside of the 
wrist, single, double, or triple. 
brace-mold (bras'mold), . In arch., a mold- 
ing formed by the union of two ogees, and in 
section resembling the brace used in printing. 
Sometimes a small bead is inserted between 
the ogees. 
brace-pendant (bras'pen'dant), . Xaut., a 
length of rope or chain into which the brace- 
block is spliced. 
bracer (bra'ser), n. [< brace, v., + -! ; in sense 
2, < ME. bracer, brasere. < OF. brat, the arm : see 
brace 1 , .] 1. One who or that which braces, 
binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage. 2. 
In arclteru, a wrist-guard worn over the sleeve 
on the left arm as a protection against the fric- 
tion or the catching of the bowstring, it U com- 
monly of leather, hut sometimes of metal, and was for- 
merly even of Ivory, and frequently a decorative object. 
The glove Is sometimes made to serve as a bracer. See 
cut under ixwmanl. 
Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer, 
And by his side a swerd and a tiokeler. 
Chaucer, Uen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 111. 
A bracer serueth for two causes, one to sane his anne 
from the stryjte of the strynge, and his doublet from 
wearynge, and the other is, that the strynge gljilvii^e 
sharpelye and (juicklye of the bracer, may make the 
sharper shoote. Ascttam, Toxophilus. 
3. That which braces or stimulates the nerves ; 
a tonic ; specifically, a drink taken early in the 
morning. [Colloq.] 
brace-stake (bras stak), M. A stake competed 
for by braces of dogs instead of individuals, as 
in field-trials. 
bracht, brachet (brach or brak), H. [In the 
pron. orach also, and properlv, written brateli 
(see brtiteli, hratchct); < MS. bracht, < OF. 
brache, F. brnque = Pr. brae = Sp. Pg. braco = 
It. bracco (cf. ML. braccus, bracco), < OHG. 
brncclio, MHO. G. bracke = D. brak = 8w. brack. 
a dog that hunts by the scent : origin unknown. 
The mod. pron. brak follows mod. F. braque, 
and requires the spelling "brack (or, as F., 
braqw).'] A bitch of the nound kind; specifi- 
cally, a species of scenting hound : a pointer or 
setter. 
\ sow pig by chunce .sucked a brach, and when she was 
uroHii would miraculously hunt all manner of deer. 
Burlun. Anal, of Mel. 
brachiate 
Brachelytra ib k.-i'i-trai. . t ,i. \\i... < Or. 
V'M". short. + I/.T,,.,,, a ..hcHth, shard: sec 
</(/.;. j In Latreille's system of - 
lion, a division of I'ati-n/iti i-n including tin- 
rove-beetles, or Xl<i/ilti/liiiiiln; which hav tin- 
elytra short, not nearly covering the abdomen, 
the untennie short, not clnvate, and usually 
two anal appendage ,.,- th(Me foi^t, ,. 
known as cuclrtail*, from the wa> the) hai 
up their tails. With the .S7n/./il//i;n</<r the 1'trlapttulir 
are sometimes associated under '/traeA'/yfra. Thwe are 
;.<us. \utli tlxed abdomen and no anal appendage*. 
, 
brachelytrOUS (bra-kel'i-tnis), a. |< r.rni-h,- 
litim + -oux.] Having short elytra; specifical- 
ly, pertaining to the Jiracln lytrn. AUo linn-lni- 
I Itftl'OHX. 
brachett, . See bratrln-i. 
brachia. . Plural of bracliinm. 
brachial (bra'ki- or brak'i-al), a. and n. [< L. 
brachialin, bracchiali.t, < IrodUtM (prop, brac- 
i-liinm), arm: seeftrc<-l, .] I. a. 1. Belonging 
to the arm, fore leg, wing, pectoral fin, or other 
fore limb of a vertebrate ; especially, belonging 
to the upper part of such member, from the 
shoulder to the elbow. 2. Of or pertaining to 
the brachia of the lirachiopoda or of other ani- 
mals, as the wings of pteropods, the arms of 
cephalopods, the rays of crinoids, etc. Bra- 
chial appendages, a pair of organs 
characteristic of the brachlopods, 
and suggesting the name of the 
class Rrachinftmla ; they are prolon- 
gations of the lateral port ions of the 
lips or margins of the mouth, and are 
therefore also called labial appen- 
doges. Brachial artery, or hu- 
meral artery, the principal artery 
of the n pi >er arm ; the continuation of 
the axillary artery from its exit from 
the axilla to Its division int. 
Brachial Appendages 
fricaitj. a, adducto 
pressions; /.teeth. 
radial 
and ulnae arteries, which hi man 
occurs just below the ellww. Bra- 
chial plexus, the network or interlacing of the anterior 
branches of lower cervical and upper dorsal spinal nerves, 
which are distributed to the fore limb: the brachiplex. 
Brachial veins, the vena; comltes, or companion veins, 
of the hrachlal artery, which unite with each other and 
with the basilic vein to form the axillary vein. 
II. . 1. In ichth., one of the series of bones 
to which the rays of the pectoral fins of fishes 
are attached. 
The fourth or lowest of the four brachial* which together 
may represent the humenis, and to which the tin-rays an; 
attached. Mirart, Elcm. Anat., p. 162 
2. In human anat. : (a) The brachial artery. 
(6) In the Latin form brachintis (atiticux). a 
muscle of the front of the upper arm. arising 
from the front of the humerus and inserted into 
the ulna, flexing the forearm. Also called 
anticobrachialis. See cut under muscle. 3. 
One of the joints of the branches of a crinoid, 
between the radial* and the palmars ; one of the 
joints of the third order, or of a division of the 
radials. 
brachiale (brak-i-a'le), .; pi. brachialia (-H-ft). 
[L., prop. neut. of brachialig, bracchialix : see 
brachial, bracelet.'] 1. In crinoids, same as bra- 
chial, 3. 
At the third radiale, the series bifurcates into two series 
of brachialia. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. fiflu. 
2. Kccleg., a reliquary in the shape of a hand 
and forearm, usually held erect with the hand 
open and the fingers" wearing rings. 3. pi. See 
extract. 
Besides their gloves, our bishops wore, on occasions, 
a certain kind of loose sleeves, called brnchialia, which 
could be easily drawn over the alb high up almost to the 
elbow, and thus hinder the cuffs of that vesture and its 
beautiful apparels from lieing splashed when the bishop, 
on Huh Saturday, baptized the new-born infants in the 
font which he had just hallowed. 
Hodc, church of our Fathers, ii. 164. 
brachlalgia (brak-i-al'ji-). n. [NL., < L. bra- 
rliium,braechiui, arm, + fer. -a> ; la, < a'/fnv, feel 
pain, < '; in , pain.] Neuralgia in the arm. 
brachialia, w. Plural of bracliia/i. 
brachialis (brak-i-'lis), M. [L.] See brachitil. 
n.. -2 (ft). 
Brachiata (brak-i-a'ta), . pi [NL., ncut. pi. 
of L. brachiatus, briii-rliititim : see brachidti.} 
An order of crinoids, the brachiate crinoids or 
crinoids proper, having five or more branching 
arms. There are two families. Ki>,-riirid<t and Cotitatii- 
li'l,i'. Thisdhisinu includes all the living erinolds, as well 
as many of (lie extinct ones, ami is distinguished from the 
Blattoidea an all of which are extinct. Abu 
called t;,-'-l,,it,r. 
brachiate (bra'ki- or brak'i-at), a. [< L. bra- 
chiatHg. braechialim. having arms: see brachitil.] 
1. In hot., having widely spreading branches 
arranged in alternate pairs, or decussate; fur- 
nished with brachia. 2. In roof. : () Having 
brachia of any kind: brachiferous. (ft) Specifi- 
cally, of or pertaining to the Itrai'hiata. 
