Breech"es (?), n. pl. [OE. brech,
brek, AS. brēk, pl. of brōc breech,
breeches; akin to Icel. brōk breeches, ODan. brog, D.
broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which
is of Celtic origin. Cf. Brail.] 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.]
Breeches buoy, in the life-saving service, a pair
of canvas breeches depending from an annular or beltlike life buoy which is
usually of cork. This contrivance, inclosing the person to be rescued, is
hung by short ropes from a block which runs upon the hawser stretched from
the ship to the shore, and is drawn to land by hauling lines. --
Breeches pipe, a forked pipe forming two branches
united at one end. -- Knee breeches, breeches
coming to the knee, and buckled or fastened there; smallclothes. --
To wear the breeches, to usurp the authority of the
husband; -- said of a wife. [Colloq.]