breeches

[ brich-iz, bree-chiz ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Also called knee breeches. knee-length trousers none, trousers none, often having ornamental buckles or elaborate decoration at or near the bottoms, commonly worn by men and boys in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.
2. riding breeches.
3. Informal. trousers none.

breeches

/ ˈbriː-; ˈbrɪtʃɪz /

plural noun

1. trousers extending to the knee or just below, worn for riding, mountaineering, etc
2. informal.
   any trousers
3. too big for one's breeches
   conceited; unduly self-confident

Word History and Origins

Origin of breeches¹

1125–75; Middle English, plural of breech none

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. too big for one's breeches, asserting oneself beyond one's authority or ability.

Example Sentences

There were men dressed in colonial garb complete with knee-breeches and powdered wigs.

From The Daily Beast

His clothes marked him as a man of the city, for we do not wear shooting jackets, and breeches and leather leggings in our valley.

From Project Gutenberg

With them were two civilians, both in rough shooting-jackets and breeches, one about forty-five, the other a few years his junior.

From Project Gutenberg

He still wore knee-breeches and dark cotton stockings on his nether limbs, but they were not the breeches.

From Project Gutenberg

The Adventure Girls were dressed alike in brown breeches, leather boots, and khaki shirts with brown silk ties to match.

From Project Gutenberg

After that home and to bed, reading myself asleep, while the wench sat mending my breeches by my bedside.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• knickers
• shorts
• slacks
• trousers
• underpants