breeches

breeches
breeches c.1200, a double plural, from O.E. brec "breeches," which already was plural of broc "garment for the legs and trunk," from P.Gmc. *brokiz (Cf. O.N. brok, Du. broek, Dan. brog, O.H.G. bruoh, Ger. Bruch, obsolete since 18c. except in Swiss dialect), perhaps from PIE root *bhreg- (see BREAK (Cf. break)). The Proto-Germanic word is a parallel form to Celt. *bracca, source (via Gaulish) of L. braca (Cf. Fr. braies), and some propose that the Germanic word group is borrowed from Gallo-Latin, others that the Celtic was from Germanic. Expanded sense of "part of the body covered by breeches, posterior" led to senses in childbirthing (1670s) and gunnery ("the part of a firearm behind the bore," 1570s). As the popular word for "trousers" in English, displaced in U.S. c.1840 by PANTS (Cf. pants). The Breeches Bible (Geneva Bible of 1560) so called on account of rendition of Gen. iii:7 (already in Wyclif) "They sewed figge leaues together, and made themselues breeches."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Breeches — (pronounced IPA| [ˈbritʃɪz] ) are an item of male clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. The breeching of a young… …   Wikipedia

  • Breeches — in der historischen Form: Kaiser Joseph II. (um 1780) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Breeches — Breech es (br[i^]ch [e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek, AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel. br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.] 1. A garment worn… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • breeches — [brich′iz] pl.n. [see BREECH] 1. trousers reaching to or just below the knees and often tapered to fit closely 2. Informal any trousers too big for one s breeches Informal too forward, presumptuous, etc. for one s position or status …   English World dictionary

  • breeches — (izg. brȉčis) ž pl. tantum DEFINICIJA jahaće hlače gore široke, a dolje tijesno priljubljene uz nogu ETIMOLOGIJA engl …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • breeches — ► PLURAL NOUN ▪ short trousers fastened just below the knee, now worn for riding or as part of ceremonial dress …   English terms dictionary

  • breeches — n.pl. (also pair of breeches sing.) 1 short trousers, esp. fastened below the knee, now used esp. for riding or in court costume. 2 colloq. any trousers, knickerbockers, or underpants. Phrases and idioms: Breeches Bible the Geneva Bible of 1560… …   Useful english dictionary

  • breeches — noun /bɹɪitʃəz,bɹɪtʃəz/ a) A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes. And how then was the Devil drest? b) Trousers; pantaloons; britches. Oh! he was in his Sundays best: See Also …   Wiktionary

  • Breeches — Stiefelhose; Reithosen * * * Bree|ches 〈[bri:tʃız] nur Pl.〉 oben weite, um die Waden enganliegende Kniehose, Reithose [engl., „Knie , Reithose“] * * * Bree|ches [ brɪt̮ʃəs] <Pl.> [engl. breeches, Pl. von: breech < aengl. brēc, Pl. von:… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • breeches — /brich iz/, n. (used with a pl. v.) 1. Also called knee breeches. knee length trousers, often having ornamental buckles or elaborate decoration at or near the bottoms, commonly worn by men and boys in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. 2.… …   Universalium

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