Part 1375

<h1>Breechblock</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"block</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.</def>

<h1>Breechcloth</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"cloth`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A cloth worn around the breech.</def>

<h1>Breeches</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"es</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n. pl.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>brech</ets>, <ets>brek</ets>, AS. <ets>br\'c7k</ets>, pl. of <ets>br\'d3c</ets> breech, breeches; akin to Icel. <ets>br\'d3k</ets> breeches, ODan. <ets>brog</ets>, D. <ets>broek</ets>, G. <ets>bruch</ets>; cf. L. <ets>bracae</ets>, <ets>braccae</ets>, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. <er>Brail</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.</def>

<blockquote>His jacket was red, and his <b>breeches</b> were blue. <i>Coleridge.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Trousers; pantaloons.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<cs><col>Breeches buoy</col>, <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Breeches pipe</col>, <cd>a forked pipe forming two branches united at one end.</cd> -- <col>Knee breeches</col>, <cd>breeches coming to the knee, and buckled or fastened there; smallclothes.</cd> -- <col>To wear the breeches</col>, <cd>to usurp the authority of the husband; -- said of a wife. <mark>[Colloq.]</mark></cd></cs>

<h1>Breeching</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"ing</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A whipping on the breech, or the act of whipping on the breech.</def>

<blockquote>I view the prince with Aristarchus' eyes, Whose looks were as a <b>breeching</b> to a boy. <i>Marlowe.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That part of a harness which passes round the breech of a horse, enabling him to hold back a vehicle.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A strong rope rove through the cascabel of a cannon and secured to ringbolts in the ship's side, to limit the recoil of the gun when it is discharged.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The sheet iron casing at the end of boilers to convey the smoke from the flues to the smokestack.</def>

<h1>Breechloader</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"load`er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A firearm which receives its load at the breech.</def>

<blockquote>For cavalry, the revolver and <b>breechloader</b> will supersede the saber. <i>Rep. Sec. War (1860).</i></blockquote>

<h1>Breech-loading</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech"-load`ing</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Receiving the charge at the breech instead of at the muzzle.</def>

<h1>Breech pin, Breech screw</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw><hw>Breech" pin`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>Breech" screw`</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>A strong iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore.</def>

<h1>Breech sight</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breech" sight`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>A device attached to the breech of a firearm, to guide the eye, in conjunction with the front sight, in taking aim.</def>

<h1>Breed</h1> <Xpage=179>

<hw>Breed</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Bred</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Breeding</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>breden</ets>, AS. <ets>br\'c7dan</ets> to nourish, cherish, keep warm, from <ets>br\'d3d</ets> brood; akin to D. <ets>broeden</ets> to brood, OHG. <ets>bruoten</ets>, G. <ets>br\'81ten</ets>. See <er>Brood</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To produce as offspring; to bring forth; to bear; to procreate; to generate; to beget; to hatch.</def>

<blockquote>Yet every mother <b>breeds</b> not sons alike. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>If the sun <b>breed</b> maggots in a dead dog. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>