breeches buoy

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. a rescue device consisting of a life buoy from which is suspended a canvas sling, similar in form to a pair of breeches, in which shipwrecked or disabled persons are hauled from a vessel to the shore or to another vessel by means of a rope and pulley between them.

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breeches buoy British  

noun

1. a ring-shaped life buoy with a support in the form of a pair of short breeches, in which a person is suspended for safe transfer from a ship

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Etymology

Origin of breeches buoy

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Then they attached a breeches buoy, or a canvas sling, to the pulley, which they hoped could carry the men ashore.

From New York Times

The ship’s crew would tie off the rope and attach a breeches buoy that worked like a zip line to bring survivors to shore.

From Washington Times

But when they got there they found the crew had been rescued by a breeches buoy, which consists of a rope and winch fired by rocket to the Western Lass crew by coastguards.

From BBC

No one but Billie and Mr. Bangs recognized Belle Rogers in the miserable object which now crawled out of the breeches buoy.

From Project Gutenberg

“They’ll try to save them with the breeches buoy,” he said.

From Project Gutenberg