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Back to article: BRACE (through the Fr. from the plural of the Lat. bracchium, the arm)

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BRACE (through the Fr. from the plural of the Lat. bracchium, the arm), a measure of length, being the distance between the extended arms. From the original meaning of " the two arms " comes that of something which secures, connects, tightens or strengthens, found in.numerous uses of the word, as a carpenter's tool with a crank handle and socket to hold a bit for boring; a beam of wood or metal used to strengthen any building or machine; the straps passing over the shoulders to support the trousers; the leathern thong which slides up and down the cord of a drum, and regulates the tension and the tone; a writing and printing sign ({) for uniting two or more lines of letterpress or music; a nautical term fora rope fastened to the yard for trimming the sails (cf. the corresponding French term bras de vergue). As meaning " a couple " or " pair " the term was first applied to dogs, probably from the leash by which they were coupled in coursing. In architecture " brace mould " is the term for two ressaunts or ogees united together like a brace in printing, sometimes with a small bead between them.