breech

[n. breech; v. breech, brich] /n. britʃ; v. britʃ, brɪtʃ/
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)
6.
Ordnance. to fit or furnish (a gun) with a breech.
7.
to clothe with breeches.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English breeche, Old English brēc, plural of brōc; cognate with Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh
Related forms
unbreeched, adjective
Can be confused
breach, breech (see synonym study at breach)
Examples from the web for breech
  • Deeper than than and the water pressure than breech the o-rings.
  • In guns, backfire is an explosion toward the the breech rather than the muzzle of a firearm.
  • The lever-action breech mechanism allowed the user to fire a number of shots before having to reload.
  • Shells must be loaded by hand into the breech of the gun.
  • Delivering a breech calf is a hands-on experience not for the faint of heart.
British Dictionary definitions for breech

breech

noun (briːtʃ)
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 (transitive) (briːtʃ; brɪtʃ)
6.
to fit (a gun) with a breech
7.
(archaic) to clothe in breeches or any other clothing
See also breeches
Usage note
Breech is sometimes wrongly used as a verb where breach is meant: the barrier/agreement was breached (not breeched)
Word Origin
Old English brēc, plural of brōc leg covering; related to Old Norse brōk, Old High German bruoh
Word Origin and History for breech
n.

"back part of a gun or firearm," 1570s, from singular of breeches (q.v.).

breech in Medicine

breech (brēch)
n.
The lower rear portion of the human trunk; the buttocks.