rein

Meanings

Noun

• A strap or rope attached to a bridle or bit, used to control a horse, animal or young child.
• An instrument or means of curbing, restraining, or governing.
• A kidney.
• The inward impulses; the affections and passions, formerly supposed to be located in the area of the kidneys.

Verb

• To direct or stop a horse by using reins.
• To restrain; to control; to check.
• To obey directions given with the reins.

Origin

• From Middle English rein, reyne, borrowed from Anglo-Norman reyne and Old French resne (Modern French rêne), from Vulgar Latin *retina, from Classical Latin retineō ("to retain"), from re- + teneō.
• Displaced native .
• From Anglo-Norman reines, Middle French reins, and their source, Latin rēnēs.