'To brace one's self' definitions:

Definition of 'To brace one's self'

From: GCIDE
  • Brace \Brace\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braced; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracing.]
  • 1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves. [1913 Webster]
  • And welcome war to brace her drums. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly. [1913 Webster]
  • The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • Some who spurs had first braced on. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd. [1913 Webster]
  • A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. --Fairfax. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Naut.) To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards. [1913 Webster]
  • To brace about (Naut.), to turn (a yard) round for the contrary tack.
  • To brace a yard (Naut.), to move it horizontally by means of a brace.
  • To brace in (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by hauling in the weather brace.
  • To brace one's self, to call up one's energies. "He braced himself for an effort which he was little able to make." --J. D. Forbes.
  • To brace to (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by checking or easing off the lee brace, and hauling in the weather one, to assist in tacking.
  • To brace up (Naut.), to bring (a yard) nearer the direction of the keel by hauling in the lee brace.
  • To brace up sharp (Naut.), to turn (a yard) as far forward as the rigging will permit. [1913 Webster]