braces

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
brace/breɪs/

▶noun

• 1 a device supporting a weak or injured part of the body.

  ■ a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.

  ■ a strengthening piece of iron or timber in building or carpentry.

• 2 (braces) Brit. a pair of straps passing over the shoulders and fastening to the top of trousers at the front and back to hold them up.

• 3 (pl. same) a pair of things, especially birds or mammals killed in hunting.

• 4 (also brace and bit) a drilling tool with a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit.

• 5 either of two connecting marks { and }, used in printing.

  ■ Music a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time.

• 6 a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail.

▶verb

• 1 make stronger or firmer with wood, iron, etc.

• 2 press (one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced.

• 3 (brace oneself) prepare for something difficult or unpleasant.

– origin ME: from OFr. bracier ‘embrace’, from brace ‘two arms’, from L. bracchia, pl. of bracchium ‘arm’, from Gk brakhiōn.