Often, reins.a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.
2.
any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.
3.
any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.
4.
reins, the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.
6.
to curb; restrain; control.
–verb (used without object)
7.
to obey the reins: a horse that reins well.
8.
to rein a horse or other animal.
—Idioms
9.
draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt: The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.
10.
give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one's imagination. Also, give free rein to, give full rein to.
[Origin: 1300–50; (n.) ME rene, reine, raine < OF re(s)ne < VL *retina, n. deriv. of L retinére to hold back, retain; (v.) ME rainen, reinen, deriv. of the n.]
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