Hypertext Webster Gateway: "breech"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Breech \Breech\, n. [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.) The external angle of knee timber, the inside of
which is called the throat.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Breech \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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

breech
n : opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can
be loaded [syn: {rear of barrel}, {rear of tube}]


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