Both Uses of
rein
in
Fences
- I picked up them same reins that he had used on me.†
Chpt 1.4
- I picked up them reins and commenced to whupping on him.
Chpt 1.4 *reins = straps used to control a horse
Definition:
-
(rein as in: to rein in their activities) to restrain or control; or a means of controlThe meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" -- to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" -- do not restrain
- "the reins of government" -- means of control
- "the reins of the horse" -- leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)