[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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
see also:
braced bracing to brace about to brace a yard to brace in to brace one's self 
to brace to to brace up to brace up sharp 

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