Category:Breech

Breech, n. Etym: [See Breeches.]

1. The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks.

2. Breeches. [Obs.] Shak.

3. The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the chamber.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is called the throat.

Breech Breech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breeched; p. pr. & vb. n. Breeching.]

1. To put into, or clothe with, breeches. A great man. . . anxious to know whether the blacksmith's youngest boy was breeched. Macaulay.

2. To cover as with breeches. [Poetic] Their daggers unmannerly breeched with gore. Shak.

3. To fit or furnish with a breech; as, to breech a gun.

4. To whip on the breech. [Obs.] Had not a courteous serving man conveyed me away, whilst he went to fetch whips, I think, in my conscience, he would have breeched me. Old Play.

5. To fasten with breeching.