breech

American  

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

noun

breeches plural

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 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

---

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• breeches
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

breech breeches

Howitzers are put together from metal subsystems, such as the barrel, the breech mechanism the shell is loaded into and hydraulics that reduce recoil when artillery fires.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

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

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

The guards were carrying him, feet first, like a breech birth.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

Reynolds shows a flamboyant cavalryman, leaning on his sword, his red coat unbuttoned to show his cream waistcoat and breeches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

Like warm coals, the hidden crimson hue seems to burst into full flame in Caballero’s scarlet breeches, vest and chair upholstery.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

When the play begins, a troupe of actors, costumed in skirts and breeches that gesture toward the Elizabethan, are about to put on a new show, “The London Merchant.”

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

The procession is expected to arrive at the abbey at 10:53, with the King likely to wear military uniform instead of the more traditional breeches and silk stockings worn by kings before him.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2023

He wore white breeches and boots and a white shirt with white lace at the throat, and the fabric of his clothes gleamed as if there were light trapped within its threads.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo

Related Words

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