v. [UN-2 4 b. Cf. Du. ontbreidelen.]

1

  1.  trans. To remove the bridle from (a horse). Also absol.

2

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 2509. Thare vnbrydilles theis bolde, and baytes þeite horses.

3

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1552. Down light this gentille knyght … And vnbrydelid his stede.

4

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 56. He fell wod, and so vnbrydylt his hors þat bare hym into a maner of þe lordes.

5

1530.  Palsgr., 766/2. Unbridell my horse and gyve hym otes.

6

1607.  Markham, Cavel., III. (1617), 31. Then you shal come vnto him and vnbridle him.

7

1643.  Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxiii. 2. They would neither unbridle their horses, nor untie their armor.

8

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, VI. ii. ¶ 1. We unbridled our horses, and turned them out to grass.

9

1890.  L. C. D’Oyle, Notches, 134. He led the horses by their bridles down to the gate of the enclosure; here he unbridled them and let them go.

10

  b.  transf. and fig. To free from restraint.

11

a. 1440.  Found. St. Bartholomew’s (E.E.T.S.), 57. The tonge was vnbridillid to blasfemy and rybawdy.

12

1567.  Trial Treas. (Percy Soc.), 23. I doubte not but I shal be unbridled by Luste.

13

1576.  Gascoigne, Philomene, li. Forth he floong the raines, Unbridling blinde desire.

14

1604.  T. Wright, Passions, I. iii. 14. Selfe-love … inticeth the citizens … to prosecute pleasures, unbridle their senses.

15

1648.  J. Beaumont, Psyche, VIII. cclvii. Loe, There unbridle thy Extremitie, And give thee leave in free carreer to goe.

16

  c.  absol. (in fig. use). To stop or halt.

17

1653.  Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxii. Then did he sleep without unbrideling until eight a clock.

18

  2.  Surg. To free (a wound) from a bridle. (See BRIDLE sb. 5 b.)

19

1758.  J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 333. I had not sufficiently unbridled it, nor penetrated deep enough into the Body of the Muscles.

20