释义 |
breech I. \in senses 2-4 ˈbrēch also especially in rural areas ˈbrich; “breeches” (garment) is ˈbrichə̇z sometimes especially in urban areas -rēch-, but -rēch- is usual for “breeches buoy”\ noun (-es) Etymology: Middle English breech pair of breeches, from Old English brēc breeches, plural of brōc leg covering; akin to Old High German bruoh pair of breeches, Old Norse brōk leg covering, Old English brecan to break — more at break 1. breeches plural a. : short trousers for covering the hips and thighs that fit snugly around the waist at the top and at the lower edges at or just below the knee — called also knee breeches; see riding breeches b. : pants 2. a. : the hind end of the body : buttocks b. : breeching 3 3. a. : the part of a cannon or other firearm at the rear of the bore — see cannon illustration b. : the bottom of a pulley block : the end of a block opposite the swallow c. : the external angle of a timber knee — compare throat 4. a. or breech presentation : a presentation of the fetus in which the breech is the first part to appear at the uterine cervix b. : a fetus that is presented breech first II. \in sense 1 ˈbrich also ˈbrēch, in sense 2 ˈbrēch also ˈbrich\ transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-es) 1. archaic & dialect : to put breeches on 2. archaic : to whip on the buttocks |