breech
Americannoun
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the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body; buttocks.
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the hinder or lower part of anything.
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Ordnance. the rear part of the bore of a gun, especially the opening and associated mechanism that permits insertion of a projectile.
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Machinery. the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or eye.
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Nautical. the outside angle of a knee in the frame of a ship.
verb (used with object)
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Ordnance. to fit or furnish (a gun) with a breech.
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to clothe with breeches.
noun
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the lower dorsal part of the human trunk; buttocks; rump
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the lower part or bottom of something
the breech of the bridge
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the lower portion of a pulley block, esp the part to which the rope or chain is secured
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the part of a firearm behind the barrel or bore
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obstetrics short for breech delivery
verb
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to fit (a gun) with a breech
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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 Word Forms
- unbreeched adjective
Etymology
Origin of breech
First recorded before 1000; Middle English breeche, Old English brēc, plural of brōc; cognate with Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh
Explanation
A breech is an opening in a gun where bullets are loaded. If you’re battling armed zombies, remember that the breech is in the rear. Speaking of rears, in a breech birth, a baby comes out feet, or rear, first. Guns or rifles can either be loaded from the back part — called the breech — or from the front — called the muzzle. Most modern guns are loaded from the breech end. And if you’re single-handedly fighting a zombie army, you’d better hope your weapon is breech-loading; it’s much safer and faster to load a gun from the breech.
Vocabulary lists containing breech
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is known as a breech birth and is rare.
From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025
The baby was breech, which upped the anguish and the risk during delivery.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2023
The South East Coast Ambulance Service Trust said it welcomes "any changes to national breech birth guidance".
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2023
In a quick response, the U.S. team member told the Ukrainian to remove the gun’s breech at the rear of the howitzer and manually prime the firing pin so the gun could fire.
From Washington Times • Jan. 28, 2023
"And hast been in the battle, clean contrary to your obedience. A boy to break a father's heart! At your age a rod to your breech were fitter than a sword in your fist, ha!"
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
