'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]