That compound adjective, more than four centuries old, describes a gentle form of bridle bit.

After which I fetched a blacksmith and described to him the fashion of the stirrups and bridle bit.

It took her some time to ease the bridle bit into place, but at last she managed it.

Manufacturing in the area consisted of bridle bits, stirrups, keys, cabinet locks, plane irons, buckle tongues, chains and saddles.

When Dixon turned to trot away, he grabbed the bridle bit and hung on.

They tossed their heads, jangling the bridle bits.

When Jacob confronted the redcoats, they bound him to a tree with a bridle bit in his mouth.

Despite the impending course change the horse on the right is able to continue lunging forward due to a broken strap on the right bridle bit.

Accordingly it was believed that they had quarreled and come to blows and had slain each other with their bridle bits.

In 2000, an enamelled bridle bit dating from the Iron Age was discovered, with pottery sherds also being found by field walkers in 1983.