breech

American  

[breech, breech, brich] / britʃ, britʃ, brɪtʃ /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

2. to clothe with breeches.

breech British  

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

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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 Word Forms

Derived 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.

Related Words

• attire
• bundle up
• cloak
• disguise
• do up
• drape
• dress
• dress up
• equip
• fit
• swaddle
• swathe