What does "bracket" mean?

Bracket: (Engin. & Mech.) A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Naut.) A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.
  2. 3.(Mil.) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.
  3. 4.(Print.) One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.
  4. 5.A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like. Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.
  5. 6.To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.

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