breech

Meanings

Noun

• A garment whose purpose is to cover or clothe the buttocks.
• The buttocks or backside.
• The part of a cannon or other firearm behind the chamber.
• The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is called the throat.
• A breech birth.

Adverb

• With the hips coming out before the head.

Adjective

• Born, or having been born, breech.

Verb

• To dress in breeches. To dress a boy in breeches or trousers for the first time (the breeching ceremony).
• To beat or spank on the buttocks.
• To fit or furnish with a breech.
• To fasten with breeching.
• To cover as if with breeches.

Origin

• From Middle English breche, from Old English brēċ, from Proto-Germanic *brōkiz, from Proto-Germanic *brōks. Cognate with Dutch broek, Alemannic German Brüch, Swedish brok.