breeches Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun trousers ending above the knee
    knee pants; knee breeches; knickers; knickerbockers.
  2. noun opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded
    rear of tube; breech; rear of barrel.

WordNet

Breech"es noun plural
Etymology
OE. brech, brek, AS. brek, pl. of broc breech, breeches; akin to Icel. brok breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. Brail.
Definitions
  1. A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.
    His jacket was red, and his breeches were blue. Coleridge.
  2. Trousers; pantaloons. Colloq.

Webster 1913