I. in senses 2-4 ˈbrēch also especially in rural areas ˈbrich; “ breeches ” ( garment ) is ˈbrichə̇z sometimes especially in urban areas -rēch-, but -rēch- is usual for “breeches buoy” noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English breech pair of breeches, from Old English brēc breeches, plural of brōc leg covering; akin to Old High German bruoh pair of breeches, Old Norse brōk leg covering, Old English brecan to break — more at break
1. breeches plural
a. : short trousers for covering the hips and thighs that fit snugly around the waist at the top and at the lower edges at or just below the knee — called also knee breeches ; see riding breeches
b. : pants
2.
a. : the hind end of the body : buttocks
b. : breeching 3
3.
a. : the part of a cannon or other firearm at the rear of the bore — see cannon illustration
b. : the bottom of a pulley block : the end of a block opposite the swallow
c. : the external angle of a timber knee — compare throat
4.
a. or breech presentation : a presentation of the fetus in which the breech is the first part to appear at the uterine cervix
b. : a fetus that is presented breech first
II. in sense 1 ˈbrich also ˈbrēch, in sense 2 ˈbrēch also ˈbrich transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
1. archaic & dialect : to put breeches on
2. archaic : to whip on the buttocks