bracer

Noun

bracer (plural bracers)

1. That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage.
2. Something bracing; a stimulant.
   • Country air in the fields, or in gardens, when breathed at proper hours, is an excellent bracer of the nerves, and a sure brightener of the complexion.1830, The Mirror of the Graces: Or, The English Lady's Costume, page 27
   • In fact I did not feel good. I was suffering from the morning sickness of the steady, heavy drinker. What I needed was a pick-me-up, a bracer.1913 August, Jack London, John Barleycorn, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC
3. A covering to protect the arm of the bowman from the vibration of the string.
   • To prevent the bow string from hanging on the left arm, it is covered with a piece of smooth leather, fastened on the outside of the arm, this is called a bracer.1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 34
4. Armor for the forearm; a brassard.
5. A medicine, as an astringent or a tonic, which gives tension or tone to any part of the body.