Brace (&unr_;), 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. &unr_;.] 1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
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2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.
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The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.
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3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
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The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension. Holder.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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7. (Mech.) A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
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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.
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He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison.
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A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller.
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But you, my brace of lords. Shak.
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9. pl. Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
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I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.
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10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
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For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak.
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11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
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12. (Mining) The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall]
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Angle brace. See under Angle.
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Brace, v. i. To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -- with up. [Colloq.]
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