Bracket

n. [O. Fr. braquet, dim. of brache, Lat. brachium, arm.]

1Sense 1. (Arch. & Engin.) A piece, or combination of pieces, of wood, stone, or metal, triangular in general shape, and either plain or ornamented, usually projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support shelves, statuary, or other objects, and to strengthen angles; — in medieval architecture usually called a corbel.

2Sense 2. (Naut.) Short, crooked timbers, resembling knees, fixed in the frame of a ship’s head to support the gratings.

3Sense 3. (Mil.) The cheek of a mortar carriage, made of strong plank.

4Sense 4. (Print.) One of two hooks [ ], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; — called also crotchets.