Breeching

When boys left off skirts at about six or seven to put on breeches this was an occasion of minor ceremony which marked the next stage of growing up. By the 18th century breeching was taking place earlier, when a boy was three or four.

The great guns ranged along the deck — each bound fast by its new breechings — with their linstocks and sponges and ladles and rammers, made no idle show of warlike strength.

Beside this, he has to learn to wear a collar, a crupper, and a breeching, and to stand still whilst they are put on; then to have a cart or a chaise fixed behind him, so that he cannot walk or trot without dragging it after him: and he must go fast or slow, just as his driver wishes.