breeches

Meaning

Noun

• Plural of breech
• A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.
• Trousers; pantaloons.

Origin

• From Middle English breches, brechen, a variant of Middle English breche, brech, brek, from Old English brēċ, from Proto-Germanic *brōkiz, from Proto-Germanic *brōks; akin to Old Norse brók ("breeches"), Danish brog, Dutch broek, German Bruch; compare Latin brācae ( > French braies) which is immediately of Celtic origin, and likely ultimately from the same Germanic origin above. Compare brail.