What does "breeches" mean?
plural of breech
Breeches
/ˈbɹiː.t͡ʃɪz/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of breech
- Grammar: breeches is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: breech, breech-load, clothe, culotte.
- Useful contrasts: disrobe, eject, muzzle.
- Usage evidence: It's not easy to put breeches on a cat.
How to use "breeches"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "breeches" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "breeches" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "breeches" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "breech" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 plural of breech form-of, plural
- 2 A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes. historical, plural, plural-only
"And how then was the Devil drest? / Oh! he was in his Sunday's best: / His jacket was red and his breeches were blue, / And there was a hole where the tail came through."
- 3 (used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee wordnet
- 4 Trousers; pantaloons. informal, plural, plural-only
"But now there's only old Manning, and young William, and a new-fashioned woman gardener in breeches and such-like."
Example
"It's not easy to put breeches on a cat."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "breeches"?
Common synonyms include: breech, breech-load, clothe, culotte, culottes, dress.
How do you use "breeches" in a sentence?
It's not easy to put breeches on a cat.
How do you pronounce "breeches"?
Pronounced /ˈbɹiː.t͡ʃɪz/.
Etymology
From Middle English breches, brechen pl, a variant of Middle English breche, brech, brek (“breeches”), from Old English brēċ (“underpants”), the plural of brōc (“legging, buttocks”), from Proto-West Germanic *brōk, from Proto-Germanic *brōks (“crotch, legging, trousers”). Akin to West Frisian broek (“leggings, over-trousers”), Dutch broek (“pair of trousers, underpants, long-johns”), obsolete German Bruch (“pair of hose, leggings, pants trousers”), Old Norse brók (“breeches”) (whence Danish brog); compare Latin brācae ( > French braies, Spanish bragas) which is immediately of Celtic origin, yet ultimately borrowed from the same Proto-Germanic source above. Compare brail.