What does "brank" mean?

Brank: A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Jamieson.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A scolding bridle, an instrument formerly used for correcting scolding women. It was an iron frame surrounding the head and having a triangular piece entering the mouth of the scold.
  2. 3.To hold up and toss the head; -- applied to horses as spurning the bit. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
  3. 4.To prance; to caper. [Scot.] Jamieson.

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