brace sb. (etym. meaning ‘the two arms’, (hence) ‘armour covering the arms’; 3 orig. of dogs, perhaps because the leash was called a brace)
1.
(?) coat of armour Per. II. i.
137.
2.
state of defence
Oth. I. iii. 24
“stands not in such
war-like brace.”
3.
pair (of dogs)
3H6 II. v. 129
“ of
greyhounds”
; (of persons, freq.)
Tp. V. i. 126
“my of lords.”
