BREACH

I. noun Etymology: Middle English breche, from Old English brǣc act of breaking; akin to Old English brecan to break Date: before 12th century infraction or violation of a law, obligation, tie, or standard, 2. a broken, ruptured, or torn condition or area, a gap (as in a wall) made by battering, 3. a break in accustomed friendly relations, a temporary gap in continuity ; hiatus , a leap especially of a whale out of water, II. verb Date: 1547 transitive verb to make a ~ in , break , violate , intransitive verb to leap out of water