To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow.

“All hands, brace for impact!”

To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly.

“He braced himself against the crowd.”

To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind.

“to brace the yards”

That which braces.

A brace.

A form of the military attention stance.

Invigorating or stimulating.