All 6 Uses of

rein

in

Ulysses, by James Joyce

Pallbearers, gold reins, requiem mass, firing a volley.†
Chpt 6 *

reins = a means of control -- most commonly the straps attached to a bit in a horse's mouth that are used to control it OR restrains or controls

Outside the Dublin Distillers Company's stores an outside car without fare or jarvey stood, the reins knotted to the wheel.†
Chpt 10

He signed to the waiting jarvey who chucked at the reins and set on towards Lord Edward street.†
Chpt 10

Last in a drizzle of rain on a brokenwinded isabelle nag, Cock of the North, the favourite, honey cap, green jacket, orange sleeves, Garrett Deasy up, gripping the reins, a hockeystick at the ready.†
Chpt 15

that bee bit him better the seaside but Id never again in this life get into a boat with him after him at Bray telling the boatman he knew how to row if anyone asked could he ride the steeplechase for the gold cup hed say yes then it came on to get rough the old thing crookeding about and the weight all down my side telling me pull the right reins now pull the left and the tide all swamping in floods in through the bottom and his oar slipping out of the stirrup its a mercy we werent all drowned he can swim of course me no theres no danger whatsoever keep yourself calm in his flannel trousers Id like to have tattered them down off him before all the people and give him what that one call†
Chpt 18

Definition:

to restrain or control; or a means of control

The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:

"keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" -- to control or restrain
"give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" -- do not restrain
"the reins of government" -- means of control
"the reins of the horse" -- leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)