breastwiseadv.
/ˈbrɛstwʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈbrɛs(t)ˌwaɪz/ 1. Side by side; abreast. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > state or position of being parallel > [adverb] > abreast
side by sidec1275
beside1340
afronta1425
side to side?c1450
sidelingsa1540
abreast1567
evenly1583
breastwise1613
fair1685
sidelong1803
sidlingly1859
1613 T. Dekker Strange Horse-race sig. B3 Some [runners], vpon whose heads the wagers were layd, stood breast-wise in a direct line, at a marke, and ran onely to a goale proposed and left there.
1673 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Words 130 He uses to plow with his Oxen endwayes or all in one file..whereas breastwise, it is very hard so evenly to match them.
1849 G. Grote Hist. Greece V. ii. xxxviii. 24 Two lines of ships..were moored across the strait breastwise.
1953 College Art Jrnl. 12 332 One might cite other instances of sidewise motion such as the giant overhead traveling cranes in factories, which move breastwise borne on trucks at either end across a wide area.
2. Originally: at the breast; with the breast foremost. In later use chiefly: with regard to breasts.
ΚΠ
1808 Enquirer (Richmond, Va.) 6 Sept. It seemed to be two kittens applied to each other breast-wise. It had, however, but one head.
1855 Blanche & her Betrothed I. iv. iii. 232 It seems that the instant Lilly perceived Claud about to fire she sprang aside, leaping down with a loud cry, and falling breast-wise against the parapet, twenty feet below.
1976 ‘Özel’ Belly Dancer in You 66/1 Especially if you're well-endowed, breast-wise, an amateur shimmy can look remarkably vulgar.
2000 Daily Mail 27 Sept. 71/4 One of the then top models decided she needed some help breast-wise for a Press show and bought an inflatable bra.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adv.1613