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.
7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
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.
He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants.
Addison.
A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church.
Fuller.
But you, my brace of lords.
Shak.
9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces.
Thackeray.
10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
For that it stands not in such warlike brace.
Shak.
11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall]
Angle brace. See under Angle.
Brace
(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.
2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.
And welcome war to brace her drums.
Campbell.
3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet.
Locke.
Some who spurs had first braced on.
Sir W. Scott.
4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd.
A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced.
Fairfax.
5. (Naut.) To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards.
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.
Brace
(Brace), v. i. To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; — with up. [Colloq.]
