bit, once in Hom., ἐν δὲ χαλινοὺς γαμφηλῇς ἔβαλον Il. 19.393; χαλινὸν ἐμβαλεῖν γνάθοις E. Alc. 492; χ. ἐξαιρεῖται X. Eq. 3.2; of the horse, χ. οὐκ ἐπίσταται φέρειν (metaph. of Cassandra) A. Ag. 1066; χ. δέχεσθαι, λαμβάνειν, X. Eq. 3.2, 6.10; λαβεῖν, ἔχειν, Arist. Rh. 1393b16, 21; τὸν χ. ἐνδακεῖν champ the bit, Pl. Phdr. 254d; of the rider, δοτέον τὸν χ. one must give a horse the rein, X. Eq. 10.12; ὀπίσω σπάσαι, ξυνέχειν ἀνάγκῃ, Pl. Phdr. 254e, Luc. DDeor. 24[25].1; [χ.] εἰς ἄκρον τὸ στόμα καθιέ
metaph., of anything which curbs, restrains, or compels, Ἀργοῦς χ., of an anchor, Pi. P. 4.25; χ. λινόδετοι, = χαλινωτήρια, E. IT 1043; παρθενίας χ. λύειν, of the virgin zone, Pi. I. 8(7).48; χαλινοῖς ἐν πετρίνοισιν, of Prometheus’ bonds, A. Pr. 562 (anap.); Διὸς χ., of the will of Zeus, ib. 672; χαλινῶν ἀναύδῳ μένει, of forcible constraint, Id. Ag. 238 (lyr.); πολλῶν χαλινῶν ἔργον οἰάκων θʼ ἅμα, i.e. it requires much skill and force to guide, S. Fr. 869; τῷ δήμῳ χ. ἐμβαλεῖν ὕβρεως a bridle to c
generally, strap, thong, E. Cyc. 461 (dual).
part of the tackle of a ship, IG 2(2).1610.11,14.
corner of the horseʼs mouth, where the bit rests, Poll. 2.90 (pl.); of the human mouth, Nic. Al. 117, 223, PUniv.Giss. 44.7, (ii/i B. C.), Heliod. ap. Orib. 48.31.4, Sor. 1.100, PSI 9.1016.25 (ii B. C.), Aret. SA 1.9, Cael.Aur. TP 1.4, Aët. 8.27; but, = ἡ σύνδεσις τῶν γνάθων, Ruf. Onom. 53, cf. Aët. 8.40.
fangs of serpents, from their shape and position in the mouth, Nic. Th. 234.