Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for breech

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to fit (a gun) with a breech
  2. archaic.
    to clothe in breeches or any other clothing
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Usage

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

Other Words From

  • un·breeched adjective
Discover More

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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of breech1

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

Example Sentences

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


breebreech baby