BRACE, a measure of length, being the distance between the extended arms (from the plural of the Lat. bracchium, the arm) . Something which secures, connects or strengthens, as in a car penter's tool to hold a bit for boring; a beam of wood or metal used to strengthen a building or machine; the straps passing over the shoulders to support the trousers; the leathern thong which slides up and down the cord of a drum, and regulates the tension and the tone ; in printing, a sign ({ ) for uniting two or more lines of letterpress or music; a rope fastened to the yard of a ship for trimming the sails. As meaning a "couple" or "pair" the term was first applied to dogs, probably from the leash by which they were coupled in coursing. In architecture (q.v.) "brace mould" is the term for two ogees joined together like a brace in printing.