/brich"iz/ , n. ( used with a pl. v. )
1. Also called knee breeches . knee-length trousers, often having ornamental buckles or elaborate decoration at or near the bottoms, commonly worn by men and boys in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.
2. See riding breeches .
3. Informal. trousers.
4. too big for one's breeches , asserting oneself beyond one's authority or ability.
[ 1125-75; ME, pl. of BREECH ]