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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Brace

Brāce, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. brace, brase, brasse, braisse, brache, Pr. brassi, armful, embrace, fathom; N. Fr. brasse, Sp. & Pg. braza, fathom, from Lat. brachia, the arms (stretched out), pl. of brachium, arm.] 1. A prop or support; especially (Carp.), a piece of timber extending like an arm across a corner from one piece of timber to another, which forms an angle with it in the frame of a building, to give strength and stiffness to the structure. ☞ In carpentry and engineering, the term strictly applies to something that supports or connects parts in compression, being the opposite of tie, and stay; but in bridge-work, boiler-work, &c., it is sometimes applied to parts in tension. 2. That which holds any thing tightly or firmly; a cincture or bandage. The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.

  1. (Print.) A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, bolt, bowl.
  2. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks.
  3. A thick strap, which supports a carriage on wheels.
  4. (Naut.) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which it is turned about. Totten.
  5. (pl.) Straps that sustain pantaloons, &c.; suspenders; gallowses. Dickens.

I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.

  1. (pl.) Cords on the sides of a drum for tightening the heads.
  2. A curved instrument of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, &c.; a bit-stock.
  3. State of being braced or tight; position for bracing. “The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension.” Holder.
  4. Harness; warlike preparation.

For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak. 12. (Mining.) The mouth of a shaft.

Brāce, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. BRACED; p. pr. & vb. n. BRACING.]

Sense 1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam on a building.

Sense 2. To draw tight; to tighten; to bind or tie close; to put in a state of tension; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.

And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.

Sense 3. To place in a position for bracing; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd.

A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. Fairfax.

Sense 4. (Naut.) To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards.

To brace about, to turn the yards round for the contrary tack. — To brace in, to haul in the weather braces, so as to bring the yard more athwart ships. — To brace sharp, to cause the yards to have the smallest possible angle with the keel. — To brace to, to check or ease off the lee braces, and round in the weather braces, to assist in tacking. — To brace up, to haul in the lee braces, bringing the yard nearer the direction of the keel. Totten.