breech

[ noun breech; verb breech, brich ]
See synonyms for: breechbreechedbreechesbreeching on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body; buttocks.

  2. the hinder or lower part of anything.

  1. Ordnance. the rear part of the bore of a gun, especially the opening and associated mechanism that permits insertion of a projectile.

  2. Machinery. the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or eye.

  3. Nautical. the outside angle of a knee in the frame of a ship.

verb (used with object)
  1. Ordnance. to fit or furnish (a gun) with a breech.

  2. to clothe with breeches.

Origin of breech

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English breeche, Old English brēc, plural of brōc; cognate with Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh

Other words from breech

  • un·breeched, adjective

Words that may be confused with breech

Words Nearby breech

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use breech in a sentence

  • The Whitmore double-barrel breech-loading shotgun was designed, and later developed into the Remington breech-loading shotgun.

  • The Nubian wore black tights and shirt, black slippers and a white skull cap and breech-clout.

British Dictionary definitions for breech

breech

noun(briːtʃ)
  1. the lower dorsal part of the human trunk; buttocks; rump

  2. the lower part or bottom of something: the breech of the bridge

  1. the lower portion of a pulley block, esp the part to which the rope or chain is secured

  2. the part of a firearm behind the barrel or bore

  3. obstetrics short for breech delivery

verb(briːtʃ, brɪtʃ) (tr)
  1. to fit (a gun) with a breech

  2. archaic to clothe in breeches or any other clothing

Origin of breech

1
Old English brēc, plural of brōc leg covering; related to Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh

usage For breech

Breech is sometimes wrongly used as a verb where breach is meant: the barrier/agreement was breached (not breeched)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012