Noseband

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A strap that goes around the nose of a horse, used to control its movements during riding or training
2. A component of horse tack designed to keep a bit in place by fitting securely around the nostrils
3. An adjustable fastener applied to horses to aid in steering and managing their behavior while in motion

Etymology: A noseband is about as transparent as compounds get: it joins "nose" and "band," describing exactly what the strap is, a band that sits around the nose. The "nose" half is the ordinary Old English word for the organ of smell and the front of the face, which English has used since its earliest recorded stage. The "band" half traces back through Middle English and Old Norse-influenced forms to a root meaning something bound or tied, the same idea that gives us "bind" and "bundle." The word's appeal lies in the way the two plain parts work together. Horse equipment has long relied on this kind of descriptive naming, where a piece of tack is identified by the body part it touches, so the noseband joins the browband, cheekpiece and throatlash in a set of literal, functional labels. Each name tells you where the leather goes and what it does.

Synonyms: noseband strap, bridle strap