breech

breech
n. /breech/; v. /breech, brich/, n.
1. the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body; buttocks.
2. the hinder or lower part of anything.
3. Ordn. the rear part of the bore of a gun, esp. the opening and associated mechanism that permits insertion of a projectile.
4. Mach. the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or eye.
5. Naut. the outside angle of a knee in the frame of a ship.
v.t.
6. Ordn. to fit or furnish (a gun) with a breech.
7. to clothe with breeches.
[bef. 1000; ME breeche, OE brec, pl. of broc; c. ON brok, OHG bruoh]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Breech — Breech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Breeched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Breeching}.] 1. To put into, or clothe with, breeches. [1913 Webster] A great man . . . anxious to know whether the blacksmith s youngest boy was breeched. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Breech — may refer to: *Breeches, certain types of trousers; this term is older than the derived meaning buttock of the word breech *In a breech loading weapon, the breech refers to the rear portion of the barrel which opens for ammunition loading, as… …   Wikipedia

  • breech — breech; breech·ing; breech·less; un·breech; …   English syllables

  • Breech — (br[=e]ch or br[i^]ch; 277), n. [See {Breeches}.] 1. The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks. [1913 Webster] 2. Breeches. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • breech — [brēch; ] for vt. 1 [ brich] n. [ME brech < OE brec, pl. of broc < IE base * bhreg : see BREAK] 1. the buttocks; rump 2. the lower or back part of a thing; specif., a) the lower end of a pulley block b) the back end of the barrel of a gun:… …   English World dictionary

  • breech — [bri:tʃ] n [: Old English; Origin: brec, plural of broc leg covering ] the part of a gun into which you put the bullets …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • breech — back part of a gun or firearm, 1570s, from sing. of BREECHES (Cf. breeches) (q.v.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • breech — ► NOUN ▪ the back part of a rifle or gun barrel. ORIGIN Old English, «garment covering the loins and thighs», later «the buttocks» …   English terms dictionary

  • breech — SYN: buttocks. [A.S. brec] * * * breech brēch n 1) the hind end of the body: BUTTOCKS 2) BREECH PRESENTATION also a fetus that is presented at the uterine cervix buttocks or legs first breech adv in the manner of a breech delivery or breech… …   Medical dictionary

  • breech — n. & v. n. 1 a the part of a cannon behind the bore. b the back part of a rifle or gun barrel. 2 archaic the buttocks. v.tr. archaic put (a boy) into breeches after being in petticoats since birth. Phrases and idioms: breech birth (or delivery)… …   Useful english dictionary

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