breech

[ noun breech; verb breech, brich ]

noun

1. the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body; buttocks.
2. the hinder or lower part of anything.
3. Ordnance. the rear part of the bore of a gun, especially the opening and associated mechanism that permits insertion of a projectile.
4. Machinery. the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or eye.
5. 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.

breech

noun

1. the lower dorsal part of the human trunk; buttocks; rump
2. the lower part or bottom of something

   the breech of the bridge

3. the lower portion of a pulley block, esp the part to which the rope or chain is secured
4. the part of a firearm behind the barrel or bore
5. obstetrics short for breech delivery

verb

1. to fit (a gun) with a breech
2. archaic.
   to clothe in breeches or any other clothing

Usage

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

Other Words From

• un·breeched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breech¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of breech¹

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

Example Sentences

By midday Wednesday they were scrambling to plot a response to the monumental security breech.

From The Daily Beast

This is exactly the breech into which progressive women should step.

From The Daily Beast

But it was not until fixed ammunition came into use that the breech-loader really came to stay—and that was only the other day.

From Project Gutenberg

He devised the famous system of a dropping breech block, backed up by the hammer.

From Project Gutenberg

Spain had 10,000 muskets to modernize by the same system, and the breech-block attachments were made at Ilion.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rear
• seat
• tail