breech

[ noun breech; verb breech, brich ]

noun

1. the lower, rear part of the trunk of the body; buttocks.
2. the hinder or lower part of anything.
3. Ordnance. the rear part of the bore of a gun, especially the opening and associated mechanism that permits insertion of a projectile.
4. Machinery. the end of a block or pulley farthest from the supporting hook or eye.
5. Nautical. the outside angle of a knee in the frame of a ship.

verb (used with object)

1. Ordnance. to fit or furnish (a gun) with a breech.
2. to clothe with breeches.

breech

noun

1. the lower dorsal part of the human trunk; buttocks; rump
2. the lower part or bottom of something

   the breech of the bridge

3. the lower portion of a pulley block, esp the part to which the rope or chain is secured
4. the part of a firearm behind the barrel or bore
5. obstetrics short for breech delivery

verb

1. to fit (a gun) with a breech
2. archaic.
   to clothe in breeches or any other clothing

Usage

Breech is sometimes wrongly used as a verb where breach is meant: the barrier/agreement was breached (not breeched )

Other Words From

• un·breeched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breech¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English breeche, Old English brēc, plural of brōc; cognate with Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh

Word History and Origins

Origin of breech¹

Old English brēc , plural of brōc leg covering; related to Old Norse brōk , Old High German bruoh

Example Sentences

Caesareans are seen as essential for preventing obstructed labour in cases where a woman’s pelvis is too small, the baby is in a breech position, or is too large to exit the birth canal.

From BBC

In a police report reviewed by The Times, the patient described going to a gynecologist in 2020 to have him “flip” a breech baby.

From Los Angeles Times

Without that, the world will breech the threshold of 1.5C that was established in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

From BBC

Two days later, she was rushed to have an emergency Caesarean due to a drop in her baby's heartbeat - which showed up on a scan that also identified he was in the breech position, meaning he was lying bottom first, rather than head first.

From BBC

The post-mortem later noted that if the breech position had been recognised earlier in the pregnancy, then Rozelle would have likely been classified as a higher risk where a management plan for a hospital birth would have been arranged and the outcome may have been different.

From BBC

Related Words

• rear
• seat
• tail