Lexic.us

Definition of Breech

1. Noun. Opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded.

Definition of Breech

1. n. The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks.

2. v. t. To put into, or clothe with, breeches.

Definition of Breech

1. Noun. (context: historical now only in the plural) A garment whose purpose is to cover or clothe the buttocks. (defdate from 11th c.) ¹

2. Noun. (rare) The buttocks or backside. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

3. Noun. The part of a cannon or other firearm behind the chamber. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

4. Noun. (nautical) The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is called the throat. ¹

5. Noun. A breech birth. ¹

6. Adverb. With the hips coming out before the head. ¹

7. Adjective. Born, or having been born, breech. ¹

8. Verb. (dated transitive) To dress in breeches. (qualifier especially) To dress a boy in breeches or trousers for the first time. ¹

9. Verb. (dated transitive) To beat or spank on the buttocks. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Breech

1. to clothe with breeches (trousers) [v -ED, -ING, -ES]

Medical Definition of Breech

1. The buttocks. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Breech

Literary usage of Breech

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"The comparative advantages of breech-loading and muzzle-loading for ordnance on ... We have now to mention the principal modes of closing the breech, ..."

2. The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review by Isaac Smith Homans, William Buck Dana (1866)
"And here is the only objectionable feature in the. Peabody rifle.. Unless tbe cartridge is inserted into the chamber, flush up with the breech, ..."

3. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1890)
"On the following day the usual dressings were applied. The patient had completely recovered in two mouths afterward. FRACTURE OF BOTH FEMORA IN breech LABOR ..."

4. Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review by William B. Dana (1866)
"When the lever is pulled down this block falls below the chamber, and exposée the breech ; the cartridge is then inserted, the lever pulled back and the ..."

5. Encyclopaedia Britannica, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and edited by Hugh Chisholm (1910)
"All these are drawn from arms in the museum of the Royal United Service Institution, London. Modern Shot Guns.—The modern sporting breech-loaders ..."

6. Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary: A Description of Tools, Instruments by Edward Henry Knight (1876)
"Tine breech-block b swings upon In openin-ng the piece after firing, the breech-block a strong pin-n within a mortise of the stock. c is a strikes the lump ..."

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