Brace

Brace Brace, n. [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F. brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched out), pl. of bracchium arm; cf. Gr. ?.] 1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop. [1913 Webster]

2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum. [1913 Webster]

The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. --Derham. [1913 Webster]

3. The state of being braced or tight; tension. [1913 Webster]

The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension. --Holder. [1913 Webster]

4. (Arch. & Engin.) A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell. [1913 Webster]

5. (Print.) A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

But you, my brace of lords. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders. [1913 Webster]

I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

For that it stands not in such warlike brace. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace. [1913 Webster]

12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall] [1913 Webster]

{Angle brace}. See under {Angle}. [1913 Webster]