n.
Pronunciation: ' br ē ch
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, breeches, from Old English br ē c, plural of br ō c leg covering; akin to Old High German bruoh breeches, Latin braca pants
Date: before 12th century
1 plural \ ' bri-ch ə z also ' br ē - \ a : short pants covering the hips and thighs and fitting snugly at the lower edges at or just below the knee b : PANTS
2 a : the hind end of the body : BUTTOCKS b : BREECH PRESENTATION also : a fetus that is presented breech first
3 : the part of a firearm at the rear of the barrel