brank

Meanings

Noun

• A metal bridle formerly used as a torture device to hold the head of a scold and restrain the tongue.
• A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces.
• Buckwheat.

Verb

• To put someone in the branks.
• To hold up and toss the head; applied to horses as spurning the bit.
• To prance; to caper.

Origin

• Compare Gaelic brangus, brangas, a sort of pillory, Irish brancas, halter, or Dutch pranger, fetter.
• Probably of Celtic origin; compare Latin brance, brace, the Gallic name of a particularly white kind of corn.