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rein

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rein

1. one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer
2. the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left (or right) rein, change the rein)
3. on a long rein with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained
4. shorten the reins to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
"All right, all right," said Vronsky, taking the reins.
Getting his right foot in the stirrup, he smoothed the double reins, as he always did, between his fingers, and Cord let go.
And gathering up the leather reins fastened together by a brass ring, Nikita took the driver's seat and started the impatient horse over the frozen manure which lay in the yard, towards the gate.
'No, I will myself, I will myself!' shrieked the little boy, pulling his hands, red with cold, out of his pockets, and seizing the cold leather reins.
Besides constantly jerking his head up, in a very unpleasant and uncomfortable manner, and tugging at the reins to an extent which rendered it a matter of great difficulty for Mr.
Pickwick, and grasping the reins, prepared to remount.
Then he got into the buggy again and took the reins, and the horse at once backed away from the tree, turned slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road which was just visible in the dim light.
When they came out onto the beaten highroad- polished by sleigh runners and cut up by rough-shod hoofs, the marks of which were visible in the moonlight- the horses began to tug at the reins of their own accord and increased their pace.
"Aeneas," replied the son of Lycaon, "take the reins and drive; if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go better for their own driver.
Jones also: but as the mist gradually cleared from before his eyes, he saw that all was safe, and, with an air of great self-satisfaction, he cried, “Well—that was neatly saved, anyhow!— it was a lucky thought in me to hold on to the reins, or the fiery devils would have been over the mountain by this time.
He drew rein, and as they slowed he was on the point of imprinting the desired salute, when, as if hardly yet aware of her own modesty, she dodged aside.
it was a bad business, a bad business;' then he quietly took the rein and led me to the stable; just at the door stood Samson.
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