Where does “bridle” come from?
Bridle comes from Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel, from Proto-Germanic brigdilaz, a derivative with the suffix -ilaz from Proto-Indo-European bʰrēḱ-, meaning to break or bend.
bridle (English): The headgear with which a horse is directed and...
Definitions
- The headgear with which a horse is directed and...
Ancestry of “bridle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bridel | The bridle; the set of headwear for directing a... |
| 2 | Old English | brīdel | bridle |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *brigdil | strap, rein |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | brigdilaz | strap, rein; bridle |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -ilaz | agent suffix; diminutive suffix |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |