breech

Breech, n. Etym: [See Breeches.] 1. The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks. 2. Breeches. [Obs.] Shak. 3. The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the chamber. 4. (Naut.) Defn: The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is called the throat. Breech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breeched; p. pr. & vb. n. Breeching.] 1. To put into, or clothe with, breeches. A great man . . . anxious to know whether the blacksmith's youngest boy was breeched. Macaulay. 2. To cover as with breeches. [Poetic] Their daggers unmannerly breeched with gore. Shak. 3. To fit or furnish with a breech; as, to breech a gun. 4. To whip on the breech. [Obs.] Had not a courteous serving man conveyed me away, whilst he went to fetch whips, I think, in my conscience, he would have breeched me. Old Play. 5. To fasten with breeching.

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